US Faces Uphill Battle to Win Iran’s Confidence: Ghalibaf

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran’s Parliament, delivered a no-nonsense assessment en route from Pakistan: America’s sole escape from the quagmire requires securing the Iranian nation’s faith.

Addressing the press after returning from Islamabad-hosted peace negotiations with US counterparts, Ghalibaf was blunt. The US carries a heavy obligation to Iranians, demanding rigorous efforts for restitution.

He characterized the Islamabad dialogue—intense over Saturday and early Sunday—as rigorous yet fruitful in parts, crediting Iran’s skilled team and multifaceted approaches for advancing goodwill. This came after a ceasefire halted 40 days of clashes involving Iran, America, and Israel.

Trust issues loom large, Ghalibaf noted, with a 77-year barrier intensified by recent US strikes mid-negotiations. ‘We never trusted them from day one,’ he said, rejecting President Trump’s threats as ineffective against Iranian resolve.

‘Fight us, and we’ll respond in kind; approach with reason, and so shall we. No bending to intimidation.’ Ghalibaf’s rhetoric signals unyielding posture, positioning trust-building as Washington’s imperative in this post-ceasefire landscape fraught with uncertainty.