Iran signaled it has prepared new military options during a fragile ceasefire with the United States, as tensions remain high and prospects for peace appear uncertain.
Iranian parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran has spent the duration of the truce preparing “new cards on the battlefield,” warning the country would not negotiate under pressure from Washington.
Ghalibaf accused President Donald Trump of breaking the ceasefire agreement and increasing pressure on Iran as U.S. forces have imposed a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. An Iranian-flagged cargo ship was seized by U.S. forces on Sunday after it tried to breach the counterblockade.
“Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table — in his own imagination — into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering,” Ghalibaf said in an X post. “We do not accept negotiations under the shadow of threats, and in the past two weeks, we have prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield.”
Iran had briefly lifted its blockade of the vital oil shipping lane on Friday but reinstated the measure after the U.S. refused to disperse its counterlockdown.
Ghalibaf, who has been a part of negotiations, made the comments as Iran’s participation in peace talks in Pakistan later this week remains unclear. The ceasefire was announced on April 7 and is set to expire on Wednesday, though it is unclear the exact time it ends.
Iranian and U.S. officials met in Islamabad earlier this month, but failed to reach a deal. Trump has repeatedly said that Iran must give up its nuclear ambitions in order for an agreement to be reached, but Tehran hasn’t signaled its willingness to do so.
Previous talks were headed by Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Vance led the team during a reported 21 hours of discussions, which ultimately failed after Iran refused to end its nuclear enrichment.
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Trump said earlier on Monday that Vance was already on his way to Islamabad for discussions, but this was corrected by White House Officials who said Vance would be leaving on Tuesday if the talks were to take place.
The president said he has no intention of “rushing” into a peace deal with Iran as pressure mounts amid rising gas, oil, and energy prices.