Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker, who returned from Pakistan without concluding cease-fire talks, hinted at a strong response to U.S. provocations.
On the 12th (local time), Speaker Ghalibaf said, "We have not trusted the United States from the beginning," and emphasized, "Our distrust has built up over the past 77 years."
He added, "The United States attacked us twice during the immediately preceding talks that lasted less than a year," and noted, "It is the United States, not us, that must restore trust."
He explained that the Iranian delegation pooled its capabilities and presented creative proposals, but there was no progress in building trust due to a lack of sincerity on the U.S. side. That day, the two countries were reported to have failed to narrow differences over banning Iran's possession of nuclear weapons.
Regarding President Trump's threats, Speaker Ghalibaf said, "Such threats have no effect on the Iranian people," and added, "We have not yielded in the face of full-scale military confrontation, economic sanctions, or political pressure, and instead have shown the world how desperate our enemies are."
He went on, "If the United States comes with a fight, we will fight, and if it comes with logic, we will respond with logic," and stressed, "We will not kneel to any threat."
Meanwhile, Ishaq Dar, Pakistan's deputy prime minister and foreign minister who mediated the cease-fire talks, said the same day, "Both sides must strictly abide by the cease-fire pledge," and added, "We hope the two countries will maintain a positive spirit for peace."