Curious reaction of Tehran, after Trump extended the truce. “They must receive a military response”
The extension of the truce between Iran and the US, announced earlier by US President Donald Trump, is a “maneuver to buy time” in view of a surprise attack, an adviser to the speaker of the Tehran parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, said on Tuesday, according to Reuters, CNN and The Guardian.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has so far emerged as Iran's chief negotiator in talks with the United States.
Mahdi Mohammadi, a senior adviser to President Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, argued in a post on the X social network that “the defeated side cannot dictate terms” and called the continued US blockade of Iranian ports and the Strait of Hormuz a “siege” that is “no different from bombing and must receive a military response.”
In a sign of Tehran's mistrust of Washington, Mohammadi accused Trump of extending the truce as “a maneuver to buy time for a surprise attack,” adding that “the time has come for Iran to take the initiative.”
“Trump's extension of the truce means nothing. The defeated side cannot dictate terms. The continuation of the siege is no different from a bombing and must be met with a military response. Furthermore, Trump's extension of the truce is certainly a maneuver to buy time for a surprise attack. The time has come for Iran to take the initiative,” the adviser's full message reads.
Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the long-serving speaker of Tehran's parliament, led the first round of talks with the US in Islamabad and was expected to join Vice President JD Vance in a second round of talks, which were first postponed, then suspended indefinitely.
A little earlier, Donald Trump announced the extension of the truce with Iran to give Tehran more time to negotiate, but the US president made it clear that he would at the same time maintain the blockade of Iranian ports.
“In view of the fact that the government of Iran is deeply divided – which is not surprising – and at the request of Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, we have been asked to delay the attack on Iran until the leaders and representatives of this country can present a joint proposal. Therefore, I have ordered our military to continue the blockade and in all other respects to remain ready and capable, and I therefore, extend the ceasefire until their proposal is presented and the talks are concluded, one way or another. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” the White House leader wrote in his message.
Meanwhile, the White House confirmed that US Vice President JD Vance, in charge of possible new talks with Iran in Pakistan, in Islamabad, will not leave Washington on Tuesday as originally scheduled, according to AFP.
