Muhammad Amanullah
Date: October 15, 2026
The True Post (Web News) —
Iran has vowed to continue resisting the United States, insisting that the conflict cannot end unless Tehran’s demands are met. However, Iranian leaders have also indicated that they do not want an indefinite war or lengthy negotiations without a clear outcome.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a televised address that Tehran’s primary objective was to establish a sustainable defensive balance capable of deterring future attacks.
According to Ghalibaf, Iran wants to achieve that objective through negotiations, but it is not prepared to end the fighting without securing acceptance of its demands.
His remarks highlight Tehran’s position that any potential agreement must address its security concerns and provide meaningful safeguards against future military action.
Iran Responds to U.S. Deadlines and Economic Pressure
According to Iran’s state broadcaster, IRIB, Ghalibaf said deadlines imposed by the United States had already passed.
The measures included efforts to increase economic pressure on Iran. Despite those efforts, he maintained that the Iranian political system continued to function.
His comments reflected Tehran’s determination to resist American pressure while maintaining its stated conditions for ending the conflict.
The Iranian position suggests that economic pressure alone has not persuaded the country’s leadership to abandon its demands. Instead, officials continue to emphasise the need for a settlement that addresses Iran’s longer-term security concerns.
The statements also indicate that Tehran wants negotiations to produce a concrete outcome rather than simply extend discussions without resolving the central disagreements.
Ghalibaf Mocks U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
In a separate statement posted on social media, Ghalibaf criticised U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent over his economic forecasts and comments concerning the impact of pressure on Iran.
Ghalibaf sarcastically suggested that Bessent should receive the Nobel Prize in Physics, using the remark to mock what he portrayed as contradictions in the American official’s economic predictions.
The Iranian parliamentary speaker argued that Bessent’s forecasts concerning economic conditions and the consequences of pressure had made the concept of time itself seem meaningless.
The remarks added a rhetorical dimension to the broader confrontation between Tehran and Washington, which has involved disputes over economic pressure, security guarantees and the conditions required for ending hostilities.
Tehran Says It Wants a Durable Security Arrangement
Ghalibaf’s latest comments suggest that Iran is seeking a negotiated arrangement designed to reduce the risk of future attacks.
Rather than supporting a conflict that continues indefinitely, Iranian leaders have presented negotiations as a possible route towards a settlement, provided that Tehran’s principal demands are addressed.
The central challenge remains whether Washington and Tehran can agree on terms that satisfy their competing security and political objectives.
For Iran, the stated priority is a lasting defensive arrangement that would deter future military action. For the United States, the outcome will depend on its own strategic objectives and the terms it is prepared to accept.
The statements do not, by themselves, establish that a settlement is imminent. They do, however, indicate that Iran is publicly keeping the possibility of negotiations open while rejecting the idea of ending the conflict solely under American pressure.
With disagreements over security and economic measures continuing, the prospects for an agreement will depend on whether both sides can move beyond public warnings and establish terms acceptable to their respective leaderships.
