A senior Iranian military official sharply criticized the United States’ claim that it was engaging in negotiations with Iran to broker a ceasefire, sarcastically remarking that the Americans are “essentially negotiating with themselves.” The statement was made by Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and was broadcast on state television.
Colonel Zolfaqari emphasized that the strategic power the United States once claimed has now turned into a strategic failure. He noted that if the United States were truly a global superpower, it would have been able to resolve the ongoing crisis. Attempting to cover its failures through alleged agreements or negotiations, he said, is no longer credible. According to him, the era of empty promises from Washington is over.
The Iranian official also questioned whether internal divisions within the United States had reached such a level that the country is effectively negotiating with itself. His remarks came in response to an attempt by the administration of President Donald Trump to deliver a 15-point plan for a ceasefire to Iran via Pakistan.
Zolfaqari stressed that Iran’s position has been consistent from the start and will remain so. “Our first and final stance has always been the same and will continue to be: those who are like us will never make an agreement with people like you—not today, not tomorrow, not ever,” he said.
The statements underline Iran’s firm refusal to recognize or participate in any purported negotiations with the United States, signaling a rigid and uncompromising stance. Zolfaqari’s tone highlighted that Iran intends to maintain its strategic and military position without yielding to pressure or external offers, reinforcing that its principles and policies remain steadfast regardless of diplomatic overtures from Washington.