ISLAMABAD: Iran’s military said Wednesday that the United States is failing in its war and “negotiating with itself” to save face, dismissing claims that talks are underway to end the conflict.
According to reports widely covered in international media, the spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters (the unified command of Iran’s armed forces), Second Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaghari, said in a video published by Iranian outlets that the US should not call its setbacks an agreement.
“Has the level of your internal conflict reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?” he asked. He said that energy and oil prices would not return to previous levels until regional stability is guaranteed by “the powerful hand of our armed forces.”
The statement came a day after US President Donald Trump said Washington is speaking to the “right people” in Iran, which he said wants a deal “so badly,” during an oath-taking ceremony at the White House.
Trump also said Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were “in negotiations right now,” according to CNN. Iranian officials have not confirmed any talks, saying only that messages had passed through intermediaries.
Zolfaqari mocked US leadership, saying, “someone like us will never come to terms with someone like you. Not now, not ever,” according to the BBC. He described Washington’s prior strategic power as “turned into a strategic defeat” and warned that previous oil prices and the regional order would not return until US leaders abandon the idea of attacking Iran, reported CNN.
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