Iran’s top negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said Tehran will not sign any agreement with the United States unless its national rights are fully protected, signalling continuing
deadlock in negotiations between the two countries.
Speaking amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a broader agreement, Ghalibaf said Iran does not trust American promises and that only concrete results would be accepted. He stressed that no deal would be approved until Iran’s rights and interests were secured.
“We will not approve any agreement until we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld,” Ghalibaf said, in a video broadcast on state television.
His remarks came as US President Donald Trump claimed Washington and Tehran were close to reaching a “very good deal”. However, Trump also warned that if negotiations failed, the US would pursue a different course.
The talks remain focused on key issues including sanctions relief, frozen Iranian assets, maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme. While both sides have reported progress on some issues, major differences remain unresolved.
Iran has repeatedly denied reports that a final agreement is imminent. Iranian officials have accused Washington of shifting its demands during negotiations and maintained that Tehran will not compromise on what it considers its sovereign rights.
The latest comments from Ghalibaf come as diplomatic efforts continue following months of military tensions and a fragile ceasefire between the two countries. Negotiators from both sides remain engaged, but officials have acknowledged that significant gaps still need to be bridged before any agreement can be finalised.
