SAEDNEWS: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says both military action and negotiations are tools for achieving deterrence, stressing that the United States must be punished and make concessions in its dealings with Iran.
According to Saednews, Speaking in a televised interview aired on Wednesday evening, Ghalibaf criticized Washington for violating the Islamabad Agreement, warning that even a signed commitment from the United States would not guarantee protection against another attack on Iran.
He stressed that prolonging the war and escalating tensions would not necessarily prevent further threats, emphasizing that Iran must combine military preparedness with diplomatic engagement to establish lasting deterrence.
Referring to Iran’s eight-year war with Iraq, Ghalibaf noted that despite the heavy costs and hardships, Iran had created conditions that deterred attacks against the country for decades.
He underlined that deterrence depends on more than military strength, highlighting the importance of domestic capabilities and regional influence.
Ghalibaf pointed to improvements in Iran’s firepower, offensive capabilities and air defense systems, saying these had advanced 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 the country’s economic and social resilience.
The parliament speaker said Iran’s objective was to become strong enough to prevent the United States and other regional and international actors from achieving their goals through military action.
He added that Iran must be ready to defend itself with full force when necessary while using diplomatic opportunities to consolidate military gains and safeguard national interests.
According to Ghalibaf, military victories must be converted into political and legal achievements, while negotiations should provide Iran with the time and resources needed to strengthen its capabilities.
He clarified that combining military action with negotiations did not mean pursuing endless war or engaging in permanent talks. Instead, the aim was to compel the opposing side to accept Iran’s demands or, if it refused, acknowledge defeat and make concessions that would strengthen Iran’s deterrence.
Ghalibaf concluded by emphasizing the importance of preserving national unity and reinforcing Iran’s military, economic and diplomatic capabilities. He said the country must mobilize its existing resources to ease public economic pressures and transform current hardships into a more promising future.
