Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Qalibaf is on the newswires and says:
- We have never welcomed war, but we must always be ready to fight and stand to the end to safeguard our national security and interests.
- We must also use the tools of diplomacy and negotiation to advance and secure our national interests.
- We are in an essential and existential conflict with America, which seeks to overthrow Iran’s system and fragment the country.
- The enemy’s strategy has not changed.
- Our approach—whether through war or negotiations—must be based on national interests, security, realism, and long-term vision.
- We have no choice but to rely on our own strength and become stronger.
- If Iran does not benefit from the memorandum of understanding, there is no reason to continue adhering to it.
- Our armed forces retain complete freedom of action to confront any enemy aggression.
- Iran’s national security depends on maintaining the country’s strategic arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Negotiation at this stage does not mean compromise. Alongside military readiness, it is part of a broader strategy to protect national interests and strengthen the country’s position.
The comments highlight a widening divide between Iran and the United States, with Tehran signaling that diplomacy remains possible but only from a position of strength. Qalibaf’s emphasis on military readiness, control of the Strait of Hormuz, and resistance to U.S. pressure suggests that negotiations are being viewed less as a path toward reconciliation and more as another tool for protecting Iran’s strategic interests. The result is a relationship moving further away from compromise, with both sides remaining on separate paths and the risk of confrontation still elevated.
This article was written by Greg Michalowski at investinglive.com.
