Qalibaf says Iran has given US a “firm and rational” response

Iran has delivered a “firm and rational” response to the United States, and the decision on preventing another war is now in Washington’s hands, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Tuesday, according to Anadolu Agency.

Speaking at a parliamentary session, Qalibaf, who is also leading Iran’s negotiating team in talks with the United States, said Tehran remained prepared for both diplomacy and military confrontation.

“Iran has delivered a firm and rational response to the American side, and now the ball is in America’s court to prevent war,” he said.

Qalibaf said Iran’s armed forces were at the highest level of defensive readiness. He warned that if Washington made another “strategic mistake,” it would face a new battlefield and be even more desperate to find a way out.

He accused the United States of pursuing a longstanding policy aimed at dominating Iran, saying Washington had previously relied on compliant governments but now used military, economic and psychological warfare.

Qalibaf said Iran would not surrender to military threats and warned that any miscalculation by Washington would trigger an unpredictable response. He added that an Iranian military response to any renewed attack would not be limited by geographical boundaries.

Indirect contacts continue between Tehran and Washington

The remarks came amid ongoing indirect diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington following the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran continued to exchange messages with Washington through mediators. He said Iran’s revised seven-stage diplomatic proposal could be fully implemented within two days.

Baqaei said progress toward restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz depended on Washington ending its naval blockade and addressing Iranian demands, including sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets.

Tehran has said it remains open to diplomacy while warning that its armed forces are prepared to respond to any renewed military action.