Iranian Parliament Speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Tuesday said Tehran was “not negotiating with a friend” but with an “untrustworthy enemy” as talks with the United States continue,
adding that Iran was prepared for war if necessary, even as discussions remain focused on implementing the memorandum of understanding (MoU).
According to Ghalibaf, Iran is not engaged in fresh negotiations with the United States and will not begin talks on a final agreement until Washington fulfils its commitments under the MoU.
“We are following up the process of talks to implement Article 13 of the memorandum of understanding,” Ghalibaf said.
He said Article 13 provides that, after the MoU is signed and subject to the implementation of the agreed provisions, Iran and the United States will begin negotiations on a final agreement covering the remaining clauses.
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Ghalibaf said Tehran’s current position is that it will not move to those negotiations until the United States implements key commitments under the MoU, including ending hostilities, maritime de-escalation, immediate oil waivers for Iran and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.
‘Ready For War’
Commenting on Iran’s engagement with Washington, Ghalibaf said Tehran remained cautious despite the ongoing contacts.
“Even now that we are negotiating with America, we are not negotiating with a friend. We are negotiating with an untrustworthy enemy that will definitely act against us whenever it finds the opportunity. In truth, a person can negotiate well only if they are also prepared for war,” he said.
Ghalibaf warned that Iran was prepared to respond if the United States failed to honour the agreement.
“If they refuse to implement what was discussed, we are also prepared for war. If it becomes necessary to do this through war and fire, we will do it. We said that if they respond, we will definitely respond again,” he said.
Ghalibaf further said that Iran, the United States and Lebanon had agreed to establish a committee to oversee the implementation of the end of the war in Lebanon.
‘Agreement Preserves Lebanon’s Independence’
On the issue of Lebanon, Ghalibaf said Iran’s agreement safeguarded the country’s sovereignty.
“Our agreement preserves Lebanon’s independence. The guarantee of the agreement is our strength, not a UN resolution,” he said.
He also alleged that the Lebanese military was acting in Israel’s interests.
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“The Lebanese Army is being placed at the service of the Zionist regime so that it can ensure the security of the Zionist regime,” he said.
Ghalibaf said attacks on Lebanon had declined since the Switzerland talks.
“The volume of attacks on Lebanon is incomparable to before the talks in Switzerland,” the speaker added.
‘Free Passage Through Hormuz Only For 60 Days’
Addressing the Strait of Hormuz, Ghalibaf said sovereignty over the waterway rests with Iran and Oman.
“Sovereignty over the Strait belongs to Iran and Oman, and passage through the Strait is subject to arrangements determined by Iran, although we consult with the coastal countries of the Persian Gulf,” he said.
He added that, under the memorandum of understanding, vessels would be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz without charges for 60 days.
“From the day the blockade was actually lifted until today, we have exported over 40 million barrels of oil — and this happened in just the last 10 or 12 days. But in the previous 50 or 60 days, we truly didn’t export even a single barrel of oil. We were entirely tied up with this issue,” he said.
“The text of the understanding states that passage through the strait without charge is only for 60 days. Iran will under no circumstances back down from its rights in the Strait of Hormuz. These are our territorial waters,” Ghalibaf added.
His remarks came as US envoys are scheduled to meet Qatari mediators in Doha to discuss negotiations with Iran, following Tehran and Washington’s agreement earlier this month on a memorandum of understanding aimed at halting the war in the Middle East.
