Iranian Parliament Speaker and Chief Iranian Negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said on Wednesday that Iran “has never welcomed war and never will,” but stressed that the country “must always remain prepared to fight and stand firm until the very end to protect its national security and interests.”
In a statement published on Telegram, Qalibaf said Iran’s national security depends on maintaining what he described as “Iranian arrangements” in the Strait of Hormuz, adding that “we must also use diplomacy and negotiations as tools to achieve and safeguard our national interests.”
He asserted that Iran is engaged in an “existential war” with the United States, claiming that Washington’s objective extends beyond overthrowing the Iranian government to “fragmenting our country.” He added that “the enemy’s strategy has not changed.”
Qalibaf said that Iran’s approach to both war and negotiations should be based on national interests and national security and should be realistic and long-term, emphasizing that “we have no choice but to rely on our own capabilities.”
He added, “If Iran is not going to benefit from the memorandum of understanding, then we have no reason to remain committed to such an understanding.”
Qalibaf also stated that Iran’s armed forces have complete freedom to operate as usual, adding that “our national security lies in preserving the Iranian arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major source of tension in the conflict that erupted on February 28, 2026, following the launch of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Tehran.
Despite U.S. objections, Iran maintains that there will be no return to the pre-war status quo in the Strait of Hormuz, when vessels were able to pass without Iranian fees or oversight. Tehran has warned that ships attempting to use routes other than the single corridor it has authorized off its coastline could be targeted.
Control of the strategic waterway—which carried approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies before the war—has given Iran significant leverage and strengthened its bargaining position.
Reuters
