Current negotiations between Iran and the United States have allowed for a better understanding of each other’s positions, without dispelling the persistent mistrust between the two countries, said the President of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is presented as the new strongman of Iran.
In an interview with state television, the Iranian official confirmed that the discussions were stalling mainly on two major issues: the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and issues related to the nuclear program.
“We have always worked towards normalizing traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, attributing the recent disturbances to the violation of the ceasefire in Lebanon. He also emphasized that Iran would not accept foreign ships freely navigating the area if its own vessels were obstructed.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also accused the United States of considering military actions under the guise of securing navigation, while stating that these initiatives did not receive NATO’s support. “By their own admission and according to international public opinion, we are victorious,” he declared.
Recognizing the gap in military capabilities between Iran and the United States, he nevertheless estimated that the Iranian strategy had managed to resist against Washington. He particularly accused US President Donald Trump of underestimating the Iranian resistance capacity and being forced to call for a ceasefire after several weeks of confrontation.
The Iranian official also reaffirmed that any ceasefire agreement must include Lebanon, mentioning the role of Hezbollah as an ally engaged alongside Tehran in the conflict.
“For years, Hezbollah fought against the Zionist regime, but in the recent conflict, it fought alongside the Islamic Republic,” explained Ghalibaf. “The resistance front came to the aid of the Islamic Republic. Therefore, the establishment of a ceasefire must also include it, and that was the condition set by Iran for a ceasefire in the region.”
Finally, he accused the United States of violating the truce by conducting clearance operations in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that Iran had threatened to open fire if these maneuvers continued. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf concluded by denouncing Donald Trump’s statements, which he described as “masters of lies and psychological warfare.”
