Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a strong statement, declaring that the Strait of Hormuz will not return to pre-war status and that Iran has never engaged in any negotiations with the United States. He specifically labeled the reported bilateral talks as fake news, used to manipulate financial and oil markets.
According to Iran International, Ghalibaf's remarks left no room for ambiguity: 'The Americans want Iran to surrender. Our answer is clear — we will not yield.' He also warned that the U.S. is spreading false signals of dialogue while secretly planning a ground offensive.
Trump's 'Serious Talks' Contradicted
On April 1, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the two sides were holding 'serious discussions' and making 'significant progress,' adding that U.S. troops would withdraw from Iran within 2–3 weeks. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei later clarified that only friendly nations have 'conveyed' the U.S. negotiation requests, and Iran is not a direct negotiating party.
The White House has also subtly adjusted its stance, stating that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is 'no longer a necessary condition for ending the war,' effectively removing the issue from the ceasefire agenda. However, Ghalibaf's latest remarks show that Iran has not changed its negotiating principles.
Analysts note that the conflicting public statements on negotiations have further escalated tensions.