Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Monday warned that Iran is fully prepared for any situation as talks with the United States remain stalled. His remarks came as tensions continued over the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US, which has largely stopped fighting in the Gulf region for more than a month.
Ghalibaf Warns US Against Any Aggression
Ghalibaf said Iran’s armed forces are ready to respond strongly to any attack. “Our armed forces are prepared to deliver a lesson-giving response to any aggression. A strategy of miscalculation and mistaken decisions will always produce mistaken results; the whole world has understood this by now. We are prepared for every option. They will be surprised,” he said.
He also insisted that the US must recognise Iran’s demands during negotiations. “There is no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal,” Ghalibaf added.
Trump Calls Ceasefire ‘Unbelievably Weak’
US President Donald Trump criticised Iran’s latest response to Washington’s peace proposal and questioned the future of the ceasefire. Trump described the truce as extremely fragile.
“The ceasefire is on massive life support, where the doctor walks in and says, ‘Sir, your loved one has approximately a one per cent chance of living,’” Trump told reporters on Monday.
He also called Iran’s response “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE”. Trump said the United States would achieve a “complete victory” over Iran if tensions rise again.
Iran Pushes for Permanent End to War
According to reports, Iran sent a counterproposal to Washington seeking a permanent end to the war across the region. However, Trump has demanded that Iran first reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He has also made Iran’s nuclear programme a major “red line” in negotiations.
An Iranian official told Al Jazeera that Tehran wants to reduce conflict across the region. “Our response focuses on ending the war throughout the region, especially in Lebanon, and resolving differences with Washington,” the source said.
“Washington’s positive response to our response will move the negotiations forward quickly. The choice now lies with Washington,” the official added.
Tensions Continue Despite Ceasefire
The latest statements from both sides showed that major disagreements still remain between Washington and Tehran. Although both countries continue diplomatic efforts, the strong public warnings have increased uncertainty over the future of the ceasefire and ongoing negotiations.