Iranian Parliament Speaker and Chief Negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has said that the US must be accountable for its actions against Iran and must accept the legitimate demands of the Iranian people. According to him, Iran will make both military preparedness and diplomacy part of its strategy to prevent future attacks.
According to Iranian media, Qalibaf said that Tehran neither wants a permanent war nor does it want to continue negotiations indefinitely. He said that Iran wants to use its military power and diplomatic efforts to persuade the opposing side to accept its demands.
Qalibaf stressed the importance of defensive deterrence, saying that negotiations or signing a written agreement alone cannot guarantee that there will be no future attacks. According to him, Iran must strengthen its defense capabilities so that any country considers the possible consequences before deciding to attack again.
He described Iran’s strategy as a combination of war, negotiations, and defensive deterrence. According to him, it is important to use military force when necessary, as well as to translate successes achieved in the field into political results. Qalibaf claimed that the strategic position achieved on the battlefield was also an important factor behind the willingness to reach an understanding with Iran.
The Iranian parliamentary speaker also expressed reservations about the US promises. He said that despite the inclusion of US assurances in any agreement, the risk of another attack on Iran does not completely disappear. That is why Tehran believes that defensive preparedness and diplomatic action must go hand in hand.
Qalibaf’s remarks come at a time when significant differences remain in the indirect talks between Iran and the United States.
