ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Iran accused Washington of “contempt for diplomacy” on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump reportedly told a campaign rally that he had never believed in the Pakistan-brokered Islamabad MoU and considered it a waste of time.
“President Trump’s admission that he never believed in the Islamabad MoU and considered it a waste of time exposes the hollowness of their diplomatic commitments,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei wrote on X. “For Iran, this is nothing new.” He accused European governments of “whitewashing US misconduct” and said “broken commitments cannot be excused, international law cannot be applied selectively”.
Trump made the remarks at a midterm rally in Corinth, Mississippi, on Monday, according to media reports; some outlets quoted him dismissing the agreement as “a little ceasefire” that he “never liked very much”. The White House did not immediately comment.
Pakistan’s deal
The Islamabad MoU, signed in June after talks hosted by Pakistan, extended the ceasefire in the US-Iran war while the two sides negotiated final terms. Islamabad has presented it as proof that its mediation can work: at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Pakistan’s acting envoy Usman Jadoon called it “a successful manifestation” of diplomacy and urged all sides to show restraint and avoid rhetoric that could escalate tensions. Pakistan’s Foreign Office has not yet responded to Trump’s comments.
Fears of a return to war
The exchange adds to concern that the truce may not survive the November 3 midterm elections. Trump has said “anything is possible” when asked about new strikes, and US officials say the Pentagon is preparing to resume heavy fighting if ordered, even as the cost of the war passes $47 billion. Tehran, for its part, has called for tighter control of the Strait of Hormuz.
