He said Tehran’s approach was focused on advancing its interests and imposing the will of the Iranian people.

‘In the past seven months, we have shown that we are not tied up in the face of aggression. Our logic in confronting the enemy is to advance intelligently and impose the will of the Iranian people. But unfortunately, in the elite and political atmosphere of the country, there are two strategic errors that both simplify reality,’ he said.

Ghalibaf identifies two strategic errors

Ghalibaf said the first error was an approach that called for war without defining a mechanism or timeframe for bringing it to an end.

The second, he said, was the underestimation of Iran’s national capabilities and a move towards accepting what he described as unilateral terms imposed by an adversary.

‘First, a view that speaks of war but has no horizon or mechanism for its authoritative end. By denying any interaction and diplomacy, this view practically leads the country towards erosion and endless war without calculating the possibilities. At the opposite end is a trend that makes the mistake of underestimating national power; it considers Iran weak and, by instilling fear, twists the version of surrender and acceptance of the enemy’s unilateral terms,’ said the head of Iran’s negotiating team.

He said both approaches could ultimately damage Iran’s internal cohesion, though for different reasons.

‘The first mistake keeps the country in a state of permanent crisis, and the second mistake places national resources and dignity at the disposal of the enemy, and both approaches fulfil the enemy’s desire to disrupt the country’s cohesion and unity,’ he said.

Calls for a new regional order

Ghalibaf then linked his assessment to the wider balance of power in the region, saying the previous US-led order in West Asia had collapsed. He called on regional countries to shape what he described as a new regional order.

‘Today, the old American order in West Asia has collapsed, and it is the Islamic countries of the region that must implement a new order,’ he said.

He said Iran’s future course would be guided by what he described as national resolve, military leadership and the younger generation.

‘Relying on the historic will of the nation, the wisdom of brave commanders on the scene, and hope for the generation sitting in school, seminary, and university classrooms today, we will show that the path to the future will not be determined by begging, but by rationality, courage, and struggle,’ he added.

Tehran sets conditions for negotiations

His remarks came as Tehran continued to signal that any return to negotiations with Washington would be conditional on Iran’s stated demands.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said in a post on X that Tehran had communicated seven conditions to the US government for the start of negotiations.

‘Iran has announced 7 conditions for starting any negotiations to the US government. Tehran’s message is clear and unambiguous; if Washington wants to escape the quagmire it has created for itself and avoid getting further entangled in it, it has no choice but to accept Iran’s rights and conditions,’ Rezaei said in the post.

The statements came amid continuing military and diplomatic tensions across West Asia. Regional developments involving Iran, the United States, Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement have added to uncertainty surrounding efforts to revive negotiations.

Ghalibaf’s comments also came as Iranian officials continued to present diplomacy and military preparedness as interconnected rather than mutually exclusive.

The latest diplomatic developments followed the collapse of an earlier memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States.

With uncertain negotiations, Iranian officials have continued to emphasise both their stated conditions for diplomacy and their readiness for further confrontation.

(with ANI inputs)