Iran FM says talks with US to enter new phase after signing of MOU

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that a new round of talks between Iran and the United States would begin in Switzerland on June 19, with the next phase expected to focus on nuclear issues and the lifting of sanctions.

Araghchi said Iran had divided the negotiations into two phases. The first phase, which ran from the beginning of the war until June 15, covered issues including ending the war, the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime blockade and reconstruction, and led to the finalization of a memorandum of understanding.

He said the first phase lasted three months, with its most important outcome being the announcement of an immediate and permanent end to the war on all fronts.

After that phase, the two sides will continue negotiations for 60 days to reach a final agreement, Araghchi said. The talks will focus on nuclear issues and the lifting of sanctions before final conclusions are reached.

Araghchi also said Iran views the memorandum of understanding as involving the United States and Israel on one side, and Iran and Lebanon on the other.

Ending fighting on the Lebanon front is an inseparable part of fully ending the war, he said, adding that any Israeli military attack on Lebanon or continued occupation of Lebanese territory would constitute a violation of the memorandum.

Iran FM says talks with US to enter new phase after signing of MOU

The so-called 'Chinese spy threat' is a malicious fabrication with ulterior motives, said Chen Xi, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday.

Chen made the remarks at a press briefing in Beijing while responding to a media query about the claim of the Five Eyes alliance that Chinese military intelligence agencies are using online job platforms to recruit government staff from Western countries. Also recently, the United States announced that it had seized 13 internet domains suspected of being used by Chinese intelligence to obtain information.

"This is the old trick of 'a thief accusing others of theft' that the Five Eyes alliance habitually plays. They have repeatedly hyped up the so-called 'Chinese spy threat', yet so far they have produced not a shred of evidence. It is completely groundless and fabricated with ulterior motives. On the contrary, it is a well-known fact that the alliance has long engaged in unscrupulous espionage and intelligence theft activities. We call on the relevant parties to abandon the Cold War mentality, stop engaging in false narratives, and return to an objective and rational policy toward China," Chen said.

Five Eyes alliance's 'Chinese spy threat' allegation totally fabricated: spokesman