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Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said major disagreements with the United States remain unresolved, but acknowledged limited progress in ongoing negotiations to bring a complete halt to the war.
Speaking on state television, Qalibaf said both sides are "far away" from a deal, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier claims that an agreement would be reached within days.
Ghalibaf described Iran’s negotiating stance as conditional and reciprocal, emphasizing that commitments must be matched step by step.
"It should not be that we fulfill our obligations and then the other side does nothing in return," Ghalibaf noted.
The disagreements, he added, stretch beyond Iran’s nuclear activities and include tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor.
Despite these disputes, Ghalibaf signaled that Tehran continues to pursue a long-term resolution. "We have goodwill for a sustainable peace," he said.
At the same time, he argued that recent military pressure had failed to deliver its intended outcomes.
"Trump did not achieve his objective of regime change and destroying our offensive and missile capabilities. Iran is not Venezuela," he asserted.
The first round of negotiations took place in Pakistan last weekend, with preparations underway for a follow-up meeting in Islamabad. The diplomatic push unfolded alongside a temporary halt in hostilities after Pakistan brokered a two-week ceasefire on April 8.
Following another ceasefire to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon this week, Iran announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy waterway that normally carries about one-fifth of the global oil and gas supply and was effectively closed since the war began.
However, the situation shifted again on Saturday as Tehran moved to close the strait, pointing to an ongoing U.S. naval blockade. U.S. President Donald Trump indicated the blockade would remain until an agreement is reached.
Another round of talks is expected to be held in Islamabad in the coming days, according to U.S. officials.
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