Iranian Parliament Speaker Qalibaf Says "No Reason to Uphold Ceasefire Agreement," Vows to Defend Strait of Hormuz

As the United States and Iran continue their armed conflict over control of the Strait of Hormuz, effectively pushing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a ceasefire toward collapse, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and head of the Iranian ceasefire negotiation delegation, has declared his commitment to a desperate fight and strong retaliation.

In a statement to the nation on July 15 (local time), Speaker Qalibaf condemned the situation, stating, "We are engaged in a fundamental and existential war with the United States, and the enemy's goal goes beyond overthrowing the Islamic system of Iran; they aim to divide our beloved homeland."

Regarding whether to maintain the ceasefire agreement, he emphasized, "An MOU has meaning only when its provisions are valid and implemented. If the United States violates its agreed-upon obligations and Iran gains no benefit from them, we have absolutely no reason to comply with the agreement."

Qalibaf further suggested an immediate and full-scale military response to U.S. military actions, stating, "Our military has full freedom of action to fight against the enemy's aggression, as it has always had."

He identified the "defense of the Strait of Hormuz" as Iran's top military priority.

"Today, Iran's national security depends on maintaining an 'Iranian-style order' in the Strait of Hormuz," Qalibaf warned. "While the United States attempts to undermine this order through force, Iran will never allow the enemy to have its way through our own strength."

As an approach to resolving the crisis, he proposed a "two-track strategy" that combines war and negotiation.

"Separating the military front from the diplomatic front and choosing only one as the sole solution is a strategic mistake," he argued. "At this stage, negotiation never means compromise; it is an essential part of a resistance strategy to protect national interests, just like armed resistance."

This indicates that while maintaining a stance of responding to U.S. military force with equal force, Iran intends to actively utilize diplomatic negotiations as leverage to protect its own interests.

Finally, Qalibaf signaled retaliation against the United States and Israel, stating, "We will certainly achieve revenge for the blood of our martyred colleagues, and we will take firm and decisive action against the criminal enemies."

He also appealed for unity among his citizens, saying, "The enemies are hoping for despair and division within Iran."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.