Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has thanked Pakistan for hosting and facilitating high-level peace talks between Tehran and Washington, even as negotiations ended without a breakthrough.
Speaking after the collapse of marathon discussions in Islamabad, Qalibaf described Pakistan as a “friendly and brotherly” nation and expressed appreciation for its role in bringing the two sides together for direct engagement. Pakistan has been central to mediating the talks, which marked one of the highest-level contacts between the United States and Iran in decades.
Qalibaf said Iran entered the negotiations with seriousness and goodwill, presenting what he called constructive and forward-looking proposals aimed at building a framework for understanding. However, he noted that longstanding mistrust, shaped by past conflicts and previous failed engagements, continued to weigh heavily on Tehran’s approach.
He said the United States ultimately failed to build the level of confidence required to secure an agreement, despite the Iranian delegation’s efforts. According to Qalibaf, Iran made clear its core principles during the talks, particularly regarding sovereignty, national security, and its nuclear programme.
“The United States now understands Iran’s principles and must decide whether it can gain Iran’s trust,” he said, signaling that any future progress would depend on Washington demonstrating credibility and respect for Iran’s positions.
Qalibaf emphasized that Iran would continue to pursue what he described as a dual strategy combining diplomacy with strength to safeguard its national interests. He said Tehran would not halt efforts to consolidate what he termed the achievements of its recent period of “national defense,” while remaining open to engagement under the right conditions.
The talks in Islamabad, which lasted more than 20 hours, were mediated by Pakistan and involved senior political, military, and technical officials from both sides. They focused on key issues including Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and regional security, but ultimately ended in a stalemate due to deep divisions and persistent distrust.
Despite the breakdown, Qalibaf’s remarks underscored Iran’s recognition of Pakistan’s diplomatic role, as Islamabad continues to position itself as a mediator in efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote dialogue in the region.
