Iran’s Ghalibaf Calls for Defence and Diplomacy in Conflict with US
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PARIS, July 15, Saudi Arabia Breaking News — Iran must continue defending itself while remaining open to diplomacy and negotiations with the United States, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Wednesday.
Ghalibaf, who serves as Iran’s chief negotiator, described the confrontation with Washington as a “fundamental and existential” conflict.
“We have never welcomed war, and do not do so now, but we must always be prepared for battle and be ready to defend our national security and interests with our lives,” Ghalibaf said in a statement carried by state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.
“At the same time, we must also use diplomacy and negotiations to advance and consolidate our national interests,” he added.
Ghalibaf warned that Iran “has no reason to remain committed to an agreement if it derives no benefit from it.”
He also said the country’s armed forces had “full freedom of action” to respond to attacks.
The parliament speaker called for maintaining what Tehran describes as the “Iranian arrangements” in the Strait of Hormuz, under which Iran claims authority to control traffic through the waterway.
He accused the United States of attempting to weaken those arrangements through military force and said Iran’s national security depended on preserving control over the strait.
Addressing residents of southern Iran, where repeated airstrikes have occurred, Ghalibaf said: “You are the lifeblood of Iran, and we would sacrifice our lives for you a thousand times over.”
