Iran’s Qalibaf says US must decide on building trust

Iran’s parliament speaker and head of the delegation to the Islamabad talks, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said on Sunday that the ball is now in Washington’s court regarding trust-building with Tehran. Writing on the US-based platform X, Qalibaf noted that Iran entered negotiations with goodwill but remained cautious “due to the experiences of the two previous wars.”

Diplomacy paired with strength

“It is now for the United States to decide whether it can earn our trust,” Qalibaf said, adding that Iran will continue diplomatic efforts alongside measures aimed at safeguarding the rights of its nation. He stated that the Iranian delegation presented forward-looking proposals during the talks, but the US side ultimately failed to gain Tehran’s confidence. He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s role in facilitating the negotiations.

No breakthrough in Islamabad

Qalibaf’s remarks came after Iranian and US delegations concluded their latest round of talks in Islamabad without reaching an agreement. The Saturday negotiations, mediated by Pakistan, ended following multiple rounds of discussions and exchanges of proposals, but key differences remain unresolved. Both sides signaled that further diplomatic efforts would be needed. The talks were part of broader efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran that began on Feb. 28, under a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered earlier this week.