Ghalibaf says US must face consequences to accept Iran's demands

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a televised interview aired on Wednesday evening that the United States must be made to face consequences before it will accept Iran's demands, criticizing Washington for what he described as a violation of the Islamabad Agreement. He said that even if the United States accepts commitments in a signed document, this alone would not prevent another attack on Iran.

Ghalibaf argued that continuing war and escalating tensions would not necessarily deter the adversary from making further threats. According to him, Iran's strategy must combine military preparedness with negotiations to establish lasting deterrence. Referring to Iran's eight-year war with Iraq, he said that despite the costs and hardships of the conflict, Iran had established conditions that deterred attacks against the country for decades.

The parliament speaker stressed that military strength is not the only factor in deterrence, pointing to a broader range of domestic and regional capabilities. He cited improvements in Iran's firepower, offensive capabilities and air defenses as key military components, saying these capabilities had increased between the 12-day war and the most recent conflict. He also highlighted the capabilities of regional resistance groups, Iran's strategic position overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, national unity, and economic and social resilience.

Ghalibaf said the goal was to make Iran strong enough that the United States and other regional and international actors could not achieve their objectives through military attacks. He said Iran must be prepared to defend itself with full force when necessary while using diplomatic opportunities to consolidate military gains and protect national interests. He argued that military victories should be translated into political and legal gains, while negotiations should provide Iran with the time and resources needed to strengthen its capabilities.

He emphasized that combining war and negotiations did not mean pursuing an endless war or engaging in permanent negotiations. Rather, he said, the objective was to compel the other side to accept Iran's demands or, if it refused, acknowledge defeat and grant concessions that would allow Iran to strengthen its deterrence capabilities. He concluded by stressing the need to maintain national unity and strengthen Iran's military, economic and diplomatic capabilities, saying the country must use its existing resources to ease the economic pressures facing the public and turn current hardships into a more promising future. According to Mehr News, the interview was aired on Wednesday evening.