Iran says will gain concessions with “missiles, not dialogue”
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Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a key figure in negotiations with the United States, said that Tehran views military power — not dialogue — as the path to concessions amid reports of a nearing ceasefire extension deal.
In a widely circulated post, Ghalibaf laid out three core tenets:
“We gain concessions not through dialogue, but with missiles; in negotiations we only make them understand this.”
“We have no trust in guarantees or words — only behavior is the measure. No action will be taken before the other side acts.”
“The winner of any agreement is whoever is better prepared for war the day after it.”
The statement comes hours after reports of progress toward a one-page memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would extend the fragile April ceasefire by 60 days, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted shipping, lift the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, and launch talks on Tehran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.
Ghalibaf, who has led Iran’s negotiating delegation alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, is widely seen as favoring a pragmatic approach but has faced growing criticism from hardliners concerned that any deal signals weakness.
