Iran’s top negotiator says war with US won’t end in ‘surrender’

Iran’s top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, on Friday said the conflict with the United States would not end with Tehran’s surrender, after hostilities between the decades-old foes resumed this week with tit-for-tat attacks.

“Ending the war is a priority for the countries of the world, but everyone must know that this confrontation will never end with Iran’s surrender,” said Ghalibaf, who also serves as Iran’s parliament speaker, ISNA news agency reported.

“Whenever the Americans betray the understanding (agreement), we are fully prepared to defend ourselves; we will stand firmly against them and secure the rights of the Iranian people,” he added, speaking in a meeting with the speaker of Indonesia’s People’s Consultative Assembly.

The US and Iran have exchanged fire on several occasions this week.

Washington accused Tehran of targeting commercial ships, before carrying out strikes in response. Iran then said it attacked US assets in Middle Eastern countries with drones and missiles.

It is just over three weeks since Washington and Tehran signed an agreement aimed at turning a months-long ceasefire into a durable peace, but the trading of fire for a second day in a row on Thursday threatened a return to full-scale regional war.

Ghalibaf said that during negotiations with Washington, he made it clear to US Vice President JD Vance that “we have no trust in you”.

“From my point of view, those who can negotiate with America are those who are prepared for war,” he said.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday he had agreed to further negotiations with Iran, even as he repeated his assertion that the ceasefire between them was over.

A delegation from mediator Qatar arrived in Iran on Friday for talks, local media reported, following the latest escalation between the two countries.