Addressing an open session of the Parliament on Sunday, Qalibaf said it makes no difference to Iran whether the US wants negotiations or war, adding that acceptance of Iran’s seven conditions, which he described as the outcome of the Iranian nation's sacrifices and perseverance, would open the way for an agreement.
He warned that if the US makes another mistake, the capabilities and determination of Iran’s Armed Forces, rather than Washington’s wishes, would determine the geography of the battlefield, cautioning that the consequences of another war would affect many parties.
The Parliament speaker also described the US Treasury secretary’s remarks as vulgar and his language as unethical, saying they reflect Washington’s deep desperation in confronting the strength of the Islamic Republic.
Qalibaf added that someone like Scott Bessent who has fled his home for military shelters out of fear of threats would be better advised to reflect on his strategic defeats in the Persian Gulf rather than insult great nations.
His remarks came as President Masoud Pezeshkian said Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei had instructed officials to bring the neither-war-nor-peace situation to an end. Pezeshkian stressed that Iran is ready for negotiations based on dignity, justice and equal conditions, but would not surrender to force or bullying.
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei has likewise urged Washington to abandon fabricated reports about negotiations with Tehran and accept Iran’s seven conditions.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has also emphasized that Washington must choose between accepting Iran’s conditions and continuing the war, warning that the country's Armed Forces are prepared for either eventuality.
Meanwhile, Iran has put forward a two-day proposal for restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz, calling for the strategic waterway to reopen to commercial shipping within 48 hours if the US lifts its naval blockade of Iranian ports, ends the war on all fronts and unfreezes Iranian assets abroad. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has described the proposal as a logical roadmap for restoring security in the strait.