During a high-level meeting held in Tehran with Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir, Iran’s Parliament Speaker and senior negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf firmly declared that Tehran would never compromise on its sovereignty or the rights of its people. He issued a stern warning that if the United States chose to restart military operations against Iran, the response from Tehran would be far more “crushing and bitter” than before. The remarks came at a time when Pakistan has intensified diplomatic efforts in an attempt to mediate and prevent another major escalation in the already volatile Middle East region.
Iran on Saturday reiterated its warning to the United States, stating that any renewed military aggression would trigger a severe and devastating retaliation. The statement was delivered as Pakistan continued positioning itself as a mediator between Tehran and Washington in hopes of preventing the conflict from spiraling further. According to Iranian state television, Ghalibaf emphasized during discussions with Munir that Iran would not back down from defending its national sovereignty, territorial integrity, or the interests of its citizens under any circumstances.
Ghalibaf further claimed that Iran’s armed forces had significantly restored and strengthened their military capabilities during the ceasefire period. He warned that if the US “foolishly” decided to resume the war, Iran’s retaliation would be much harsher and carry serious consequences. His comments reflected Tehran’s continued hardline stance amid rising tensions and uncertainty surrounding future negotiations.
At the center of the ongoing dispute are Iran’s nuclear programme and concerns regarding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime trade routes. Nearly one-fifth of global energy supplies normally pass through this narrow waterway. However, maritime movement and shipping activities in the region have remained heavily disrupted ever since joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets on February 28 prompted retaliatory attacks by Tehran. Although a ceasefire officially came into effect on April 8, instability in the region has continued to affect global trade and security calculations.
Meanwhile, signs of increasing pressure within Washington have also emerged. According to a report published by Axios, US President Donald Trump convened a meeting with senior members of his national security team on Friday to review the Iran situation. The report stated that Trump is now “seriously considering” launching fresh military strikes against Iran if diplomatic efforts fail to achieve a breakthrough in the near future.
Speaking during a White House event, Trump acknowledged that Iran appeared eager to reach an agreement but insisted that Tehran could never be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. “Iran is dying to make a deal. We'll see what happens. But we hit them hard, and we had no choice because Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said while defending previous military action.
Axios further reported, citing individuals familiar with the internal discussions, that Trump has become increasingly frustrated by the slow pace and lack of progress in negotiations with Iran. According to the report, he even discussed the possibility of carrying out one final large-scale military operation against Tehran, followed by a declaration of victory, if diplomatic channels completely collapse.
Trump’s growing dissatisfaction with stalled negotiations coincided with General Asim Munir’s arrival in Tehran on Friday. Pakistan described the visit as part of its broader diplomatic initiative aimed at facilitating peace talks and reducing tensions between Washington and Tehran. Upon arrival, Munir was welcomed by Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni.
Pakistan’s military later stated that the purpose of the visit was to help create conditions for sustainable peace and stability across the region. Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who is considered politically close to Munir, was also present in Tehran and engaged in separate discussions with senior Iranian leaders and officials.
As part of Pakistan’s mediation efforts, Munir additionally held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iranian authorities stated that the discussions focused heavily on diplomatic measures intended to prevent further escalation while promoting long-term peace, regional security, and stability across West Asia. Iran’s state-run news agency reported that these talks extended late into the night, highlighting the seriousness of ongoing diplomatic engagements.
Munir is also expected to meet several senior Iranian security officials during his stay in Tehran. Notably, this visit marks his second trip to Iran in slightly over a month, signaling Pakistan’s increasingly active and visible role as an intermediary in the conflict.
According to regional analysts, Pakistan remains among the very few countries maintaining functional communication channels with both Tehran and Washington simultaneously. Islamabad has therefore attempted to position itself as a bridge capable of reducing mistrust and facilitating dialogue between the two rival sides.
Last month, Pakistan hosted senior representatives from both the United States and Iran for rare peace negotiations, marking the first such engagement between the two sides since 1979. Despite the significance of the talks, however, the discussions failed to produce any substantial breakthrough or long-term agreement.
Even though diplomatic efforts continue behind closed doors, neither Tehran nor Washington has shown any meaningful signs of softening their positions on the key issues driving the conflict. Iran has repeatedly maintained that it will not negotiate while facing military threats or pressure, whereas the United States continues to insist that stopping Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a non-negotiable objective.
