Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran's parliament speaker and head of the Iranian delegation in talks with the United States, has affirmed that the nation is fully prepared to defend itself if Washington breaches the ceasefire agreement.
In a meeting with his Indonesian counterpart, Ghalibaf stated, "We have never ceased preparing to defend our homeland, and whenever the Americans betray the agreement, we will be fully ready for comprehensive defense."
His remarks follow a fresh wave of military escalation, after the United States conducted strikes within Iran on July 8 and 9, claiming they were in response to attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Tehran targeted American bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
This marks the second escalation since the ceasefire agreement was signed in June, amidst ongoing disagreements over its implementation.
In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran had requested to resume talks with Washington, with the United States agreeing, but he emphasized that the ceasefire has ended.
Simultaneously, Qatar continues its diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions, engaging with Iranian officials in an attempt to revive negotiations and address contentious issues, particularly the security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which remains one of the major points of contention between the two parties.