Iran will ‘both fight, negotiate’: Ghalibaf

TEHRAN, Oct 4: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is also the speaker of Iran’s parliament, says Washington has made “some proposals through a mediator” after Tehran presented a seven-day roadmap to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
But he said the US should know “that the era of wasting time and dictating unilateral demands is over” and Iran’s position remains “clear and definite”.
“The Strait of Hormuz will not open until our seven conditions based on the Islamabad Memorandum are met,” he added.
We have more from Iran’s top negotiator.
Ghalibaf said Iran was neither “excited” nor “intimidated” by US actions and would “both fight and negotiate”.
“We are present on the military battlefield with all our might and will confront them with new surprises, and we also use the tools of diplomacy to establish our superiority in the military field and impose the rights of the Iranian people,” he added.
Last month, Iran conveyed a formal set of conditions to the US through Qatari mediators for ending the war. The conditions included an end to the war on all fronts, the release of its frozen funds, an end to the naval blockade on Iranian ports, an end to US interference in Iran’s internal affairs,; an end to US cooperation with Iran’s adversaries and an end to all US attacks on Iranian territory.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman EsmaeilBaghaei says Tehran used the UN General Assembly last month to provide world leaders with its position on ending the seven-month war launched by the US and Israel.
“It is our advice to all neighbouring countries to observe the principles of good relations. We are committed to the same, and we expect the neighbouring countries to reciprocate,” Baghaei told reporters.
No nation should allow the use of its territory for attacks on Iran, its Foreign Ministry spokesman says.
“The United States failed to turn Iran into a pariah or isolated country,” Baghaei said at a news conference in Tehran. “I believe the United States is trying to manufacture any shape of victory merely by false allegations and utter lies.”
The top issue being discussed by Iran is the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz, its Foreign Ministry spokesman says.
“We are at this stage focusing on the strait foremost, and our main concern is to reach a solution and to have peace and stability restored within this waterway,” EsmaeilBaghaei said.
“However, certain tangible measures must be taken by the United States. Certain issues were put to discussion. Iran sees attempts to violate or interrupt the memorandum of understanding in addition to the other issues that have arisen in the past few months. Above all, the sanctions imposed by the United States must be lifted.”�" AL JAZEERA