Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf: We must fight when the time comes, and negotiate when the time comes

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, regarding the ballistic missile attack on Israel, said, "An attack and a threat to end negotiations both prevent Israel's attacks on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, and show that you are not afraid of negotiations ending and are fully prepared. 

The issue is not just about fighting or negotiating. On the contrary, we must fight when the time comes, and negotiate when the time comes. This is how we can defeat the enemy," he said.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made statements regarding the ballistic missile attack Iran launched against Israel last night. Ghalibaf said that the attack in question was an indication that "Iran is not afraid of the interruption of the negotiation process aimed at ending the war in the region." Arguing that pressure on the battlefield and diplomacy must be carried out together for the Tehran administration to achieve its goals, Ghalibaf said, "Neither does diplomacy alone prevent military attacks, nor do military operations hinder diplomacy."

The Iranian Parliament Speaker said, "As a result, the other side was forced to step back regarding our rights, and we have established our own rights."

"We must fight when the time comes, and negotiate when the time comes"

Stating that there is a balance between war and negotiation, Ghalibaf said, "The issue is not just about fighting or negotiating. On the contrary, we must fight when the time comes, and negotiate when the time comes. This is how we can defeat the enemy. Only in this way does our claim that negotiation is a continuation of the struggle gain reality," he said.

Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf also rejected claims of division among Iranian officials, saying, "Contrary to what some think, there is no lack of coordination among officials; there is full coordination in line with achieving the goals."

"Our goal is to ensure lasting security"

Emphasizing that they do not trust the US, Ghalibaf said, "The hands of our armed forces are always open to action. Our goal is to end the war and ensure lasting security; not to celebrate our relations with America with fireworks. We have no trust in the other side," he said.

"We will turn the US blockade into a new defeat"

Describing the US naval blockade on Iranian ports as a "war crime," Ghalibaf said that Iran would turn this into a new defeat for its enemies. Ghalibaf said, "With national unity, power diplomacy, and military strength under the command of the leader, we will dash the enemy's hope of forcing the Iranian people to surrender."