Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf declared on Sunday that Tehran must always be prepared to fight to safeguard national security, while also keeping the door open to diplomacy and negotiation as tools to advance its interests. Speaking amid rising tensions with the United States, Qalibaf framed the conflict as an existential struggle, accusing Washington of seeking to overthrow Iran's system and fragment the country.
A Dual Strategy of Strength
Qalibaf stressed that Iran has never welcomed war but must maintain military readiness and rely on its own strength. He emphasized that negotiations at this stage do not mean compromise; rather, they are part of a broader strategy to protect national interests and strengthen the country's position. "Our approach—whether through war or negotiations—must be based on national interests, security, realism, and long-term vision," he said.
The speaker also warned that if Iran does not benefit from any memorandum of understanding, it sees no reason to continue adhering to it. He asserted that Iran's armed forces retain complete freedom of action to confront any aggression and that the country's national security depends on maintaining strategic arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.
Widening Divide with the United States
Qalibaf's remarks highlight a widening divide between Iran and the United States, with Tehran signaling that diplomacy remains possible but only from a position of strength. His emphasis on military readiness, control of the Strait of Hormuz, and resistance to U.S. pressure suggests that negotiations are viewed less as a path toward reconciliation and more as another tool for protecting strategic interests. The result is a relationship moving further away from compromise, with both sides remaining on separate paths and the risk of confrontation still elevated.