TEHRAN(The COW News Digital) Iran’s Parliament Speaker and senior negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has declared that Tehran will never resolve its dispute with the United States by surrendering, while warning that the country is fully prepared to defend itself if Washington abandons existing agreements.
Speaking during a meeting with the Speaker of Indonesia’s Parliament, Ghalibaf said that ending wars should remain a priority for the international community. However, he argued that Iran’s differences with the United States cannot be settled through concessions that compromise the country’s sovereignty or security.
According to Iran’s state broadcaster, Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran has never halted efforts to strengthen its national defense. He cautioned that if the United States withdraws from its commitments under any future agreement, Tehran is prepared to respond with all available defensive measures.
The senior Iranian official also reiterated Tehran’s long-standing distrust of Washington, saying Iran has little confidence in US commitments based on previous experiences. He revealed that during earlier negotiations he had directly informed the US vice president that Iran did not trust the United States to uphold its obligations.
His remarks come amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington following months of heightened military and political tensions. Despite ongoing dialogue, both sides continue to express deep skepticism toward one another, underscoring the fragile nature of the negotiations.
Last month, Iran and the United States reportedly reached a 14-point memorandum of understanding designed to reduce tensions and establish a framework for further talks. The reported agreement included plans to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to normal maritime traffic, ease selected financial sanctions imposed on Iran, launch technical discussions regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, and maintain a ceasefire across multiple areas of confrontation.
However, uncertainty surrounding the future of the agreement remains high as officials from both countries continue to issue contrasting public statements.
US President Donald Trump recently confirmed that Washington is willing to continue diplomatic negotiations with Iran, indicating that communication channels remain open despite ongoing disagreements. At the same time, Trump stressed that the previous ceasefire between the two countries had come to an end and would not be reinstated.
According to the US president, Iran requested that negotiations continue, and Washington agreed to resume diplomatic engagement. Nevertheless, he maintained that the ceasefire would remain terminated while discussions proceed.
Analysts say the latest statements from both Tehran and Washington highlight a strategy in which diplomacy continues alongside military preparedness. While negotiations may create opportunities for easing tensions, significant differences over nuclear policy, regional security, sanctions, and mutual trust continue to pose major challenges.
The coming rounds of talks are expected to determine whether both sides can translate diplomatic engagement into meaningful progress or whether persistent mistrust will keep relations strained despite ongoing negotiations.
