Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has said that the conflict with the United States would not end with Tehran's surrender, after hostilities between the longtime foes resumed this week with tit-for-tat attacks.
"Ending the war is a priority for countries around the world, but everyone must know that this confrontation will never end with Iran's surrender," Ghalibaf, who also serves as parliament speaker, said on Friday, according to the ISNA news agency.
"Whenever the Americans betray the understanding (agreement), we are fully prepared to defend ourselves. We will stand firmly against them and secure the rights of the Iranian people," he added during a meeting with the speaker of Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly.
The United States and Iran have exchanged attacks several times this week.
Washington accused Tehran of targeting commercial ships before launching retaliatory strikes. Iran responded by saying it had targeted US assets across the Middle East with drones and missiles.
The latest escalation comes just over three weeks after Washington and Tehran signed an agreement aimed at turning a months-long ceasefire into a lasting peace. However, a second consecutive day of exchanges on Thursday raised fears of a return to full-scale regional conflict.
Ghalibaf said he told US Vice President JD Vance during negotiations that "we have no trust in you."
"From my point of view, those who can negotiate with America are those who are prepared for war," he said.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he had agreed to further negotiations with Iran, even as he repeated his assertion that the ceasefire between the two countries was over.
A delegation from mediator Qatar arrived in Iran on Friday for talks, local media reported, following the latest escalation.
