In a pointed critique after marathon diplomacy in Pakistan, Iran’s top parliamentary leader Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf laid out a clear condition for the United States to break the current impasse: rebuild trust with Iran.
Fresh from Islamabad, where Iranian and American teams engaged in grueling discussions over the weekend, Ghalibaf told reporters the US remains indebted to Iranians. ‘They have to labor intensely to make amends,’ he stated.
The sessions, stretching from Saturday into Sunday dawn, were marked by profound challenges but showed glimmers of progress thanks to Iran’s ‘excellent proposals’ rooted in goodwill and diverse expertise. Yet, no breakthrough emerged post the Wednesday ceasefire ending 40 days of hostilities with the US and Israel.
‘Our distrust spans 77 years, reinforced by their assaults on us twice in under a year during talks,’ Ghalibaf explained. He brushed off Trump’s latest warnings, insisting Iranians remain unmoved. ‘Test our resolve again, and we’ll teach an even harsher lesson.’
Ghalibaf emphasized reciprocity: combat begets combat, logic invites logic. With Pakistan mediating, these talks underscore the high stakes. For the US, the message is unequivocal—trust is the key to de-escalation, and it’s theirs to earn amid a history of betrayals.
