Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf has accused U.S. President Donald Trump of attempting to turn diplomatic negotiations into a "table of surrender."
In a statement on X, Ghalibaf asserted that Iran would not negotiate under the shadow of threats and warned that Tehran is prepared to "reveal new cards on the battlefield."
The escalating rhetoric comes as a two-week ceasefire is set to expire at 4:50 a.m. Wednesday (Pakistan time). While Pakistan has been working to mediate a second round of peace talks in Islamabad, President Trump told CNBC on Tuesday that he has no interest in extending the truce.
"I don't want to do that. We don't have that much time" Trump said, adding that the U.S. military is "raring to go" if a deal is not reached soon.
Tensions have been further inflamed by the U.S. Navy’s seizure of the Iranian cargo ship Touska in the Gulf of Oman. Tehran condemned the move as "criminal" while Trump maintained the vessel was attempting to bypass a naval blockade.
Despite the friction U.S. officials remain confident that talks will proceed and some Iranian sources suggest Tehran is still considering sending a delegation to Islamabad.
