Iran’s Ghalibaf: US doesn’t want de-escalation, it’s bringing more forces to region

By Lazar Berman

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

20 July 2026, 2:54 pm

2 Edit

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

In this handout photo, Iran Parliament speaker and top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf steps off a plane on June 21, 2026, as he arrives in Zurich, Switzerland, to attend the talks with the US delegation. (Hamed Malekpour/ICANA via AP)

Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says that US military moves prove that Washington is not interested in ending the recent escalation with Tehran.

“Americans keep bringing new military equipment to the region and claim they want to stop the war,” says Ghalibaf on X. “They’ve bet on our intelligence being as low as their own IQ.”

“We’ve reached the stage of mastery in recognizing these American games, and on that basis, we’ve prepared ourselves,” he continues. “Actions must confirm claims, not contradict them.”