Iran's armed forces have not reduced their state of readiness despite ongoing peace negotiations with the United States, the speaker of the Iranian parliament said Saturday.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made the remarks in an interview with state-owned Press TV, drawing a clear line between diplomatic engagement and military preparedness.
"It is not the case that we think just because we are negotiating, the armed forces are not ready," Ghalibaf said, according to Press TV.
The comments come as Iran and the United States have been engaged in talks aimed at easing longstanding tensions between the two countries. Ghalibaf's statement signals that Tehran views diplomacy and military readiness as parallel tracks rather than mutually exclusive approaches.
Iran and the US have held several rounds of indirect negotiations in recent months, with discussions centering on Iran's nuclear program and the possibility of sanctions relief. The talks represent a significant diplomatic development given the two countries' decades of hostile relations.
Ghalibaf, who serves as one of Iran's senior legislative officials, appeared to be addressing a domestic audience as much as an international one. His framing suggests Iranian leadership is keen to reassure hardliners at home that engaging with Washington does not signal weakness or a reduction in defense posture.
The statement reflects a balancing act that Iranian officials have consistently maintained - pursuing diplomatic openings while projecting strength to both domestic constituents and regional adversaries.
The Hill first reported Ghalibaf's remarks on Saturday, citing the Press TV interview as the source of the quotes.
