Iran has no plans to hold talks with the United States at this stage and remains focused on defending the country, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei said on Wednesday amid ongoing tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Speaking to reporters, Baqaei said there was currently no plan for negotiations between the two countries, according to Al Jazeera.

He said Iran’s priority was safeguarding its national security and defence.

“Our commitments remain in effect only as long as the other side fulfils its pledges,” Baqaei said.

He added that Iran had suspended its obligations under the temporary memorandum of understanding (MoU) after the United States failed to fulfil its commitments.

“After the other party violated its obligations, we also refrained from implementing ours in any area where it was required.”

The remarks come as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high following the recent escalation in the region.

Baqaei said any future agreement or negotiations would depend on whether Washington honoured its commitments.

He reiterated Iran’s longstanding position that it had fulfilled all of its obligations under the Islamabad MoU and would not be the first to violate an agreement.

He had previously warned that while Iran does not break its commitments first, it would stop implementing the agreement if the United States failed to honour its pledge to end hostilities.