Iranian parliament speaker warns against rejecting negotiations, cites risk of endless war

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that Iran must pursue both military and diplomatic paths in conflict, warning that some political factions’ rejection of negotiations and focus solely on war is a “strategic mistake” that could lead the country into “attrition and an endless war.”

According to Al Arabiya, Ghalibaf added that Iranian political elites are making two strategic errors. The first, he said, is an outlook that talks about war without any vision or mechanism to end it decisively; this approach, by rejecting engagement and diplomacy and failing to consider available resources, effectively pushes the country toward attrition and a never-ending conflict.

The parliament speaker continued: “On the other hand, there is a current that underestimates national capabilities, considers Iran weak, and out of fear, proposes surrender and accepting the enemy’s unilateral conditions.”

Ghalibaf said, as reported by Al Arabiya: “The first mistake keeps the country in a constant state of crisis, while the second sacrifices the nation’s resources and dignity to the enemy. Both approaches serve the enemy’s goal of undermining the country’s unity and cohesion.”

Regarding the latest diplomatic developments, Ghalibaf stated that Tehran’s positions are “clear, rational, and absolutely non-negotiable,” noting that “Iran has conveyed its messages and conditions to the other side clearly through mediators,” and “the enemy knows well that the path of deception and unilateral imposition is closed.”

He concluded: “Unless these conditions are met, the legitimate rights of the Iranian people are recognized, and US commitments are fulfilled, there will be no window for returning to previous negotiations or reopening the Strait of Hormuz.”