Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of Iran's Parliament and chief negotiator, said diplomacy is Iran's priority in negotiations with the U.S. and other partners.
These statements come as Iran seeks to avoid a broader military conflict while managing heightened tensions with the United States and Israel. The effort to maintain a diplomatic channel suggests a strategic attempt to prevent escalation despite recent hostilities.
Ghalibaf said these remarks during diplomatic talks in Qatar and following meetings in Islamabad, Pakistan [1, 2]. During the proceedings in Qatar, the discussions entered their second day [3]. The negotiator's outreach in the region underscores a push for a diplomatic resolution to ongoing disputes.
While Ghalibaf emphasized the priority of diplomacy, other statements from the Iranian side have been more confrontational. Some reports indicate that Iran views the U.S. as seeking to start a new war, a move that Ghalibaf said the U.S. will regret [4]. This contrast highlights the duality of Iran's current approach, balancing open diplomatic channels with stern warnings against military intervention.
Ghalibaf also addressed the broader geopolitical landscape during his travels in mid-May 2026 [5]. He said the world is at the cusp of a new order and that the future belongs to the Global South [5]. This framing suggests that Iran is attempting to align itself with non-Western powers to offset pressure from Washington.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, trust remains a significant hurdle. Ghalibaf said Iran lacks trust in its negotiating partners following previous talks [6]. This lack of confidence complicates the path toward a sustainable agreement, even as both sides continue to engage in mediated discussions.
“Diplomacy is Iran's priority in its ongoing negotiations with the United States.”
Iran is employing a 'dual-track' strategy by simultaneously pursuing diplomatic negotiations in neutral hubs like Qatar and issuing deterrent warnings to the U.S. By framing the current global shift as a move toward the Global South, Tehran is attempting to diminish the influence of U.S. sanctions and diplomatic isolation through new regional alliances.
