‘We don’t need more theater’: Ghalibaf takes swipe at US diplomacy, says ‘bullying, broken promises, fake news’ failed

TEHRAN: Iran’s top negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Thursday (local time) took a swipe at the United States, accusing Washington of pursuing “theatre diplomacy” and asserting that “using bullying, broken promises and fake news as leverage” was a failed strategy while heightened tensions prevail between the two countries.

In a post on X, Ghalibaf wrote, “Massive attack coming… wait, never mind, they want to negotiate. That’s theater diplomacy on loop. Using bullying + broken promises + fake news as leverage is a failed strategy. Acknowledge the facts and fulfill your commitments. We don’t need more theater”.

“Massive attack coming… wait, never mind, they want to negotiate.”
That’s theater diplomacy on loop.

Using bullying + broken promises + fake news as leverage is a failed strategy.

Acknowledge the facts and fulfill your commitments. We don’t need more theater.

— محمدباقر قالیباف | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) August 6, 2026

His remarks come as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to escalate over the Strait of Hormuz and conflicting claims about ongoing diplomatic engagement.

Earlier on Thursday, Iran’s Acting Defence Minister Brigadier General Majid Ebn-e-Reza asserted that the country’s Armed Forces were fully prepared to counter any external threat, stressing that Iran’s military strength was rooted in its indigenous defence industry.

“Every day, the signs of the enemy’s erosion of power become more evident; however, our Armed Forces, relying on the country’s defence industry, are fully equipped to respond to any threat,” Iran’s official state news agency IRNA quoted Ebn-e-Reza as saying in a post on his social media handle.

هر روز، نشانه‌های فرسایش توان دشمن آشکارتر می‌شود؛ اما دست نیروهای مسلح ما، با اتکا به صنعت دفاعی کشور، برای پاسخ به هر تهدیدی پُر است.

آنان که امروز به‌دنبال خرید امنیت و برتری نظامی وارداتی هستند، به‌زودی خواهند فهمید که فناوری بومی ایران، برتر از هر سامانه ای در منطقه است.

— سید مجید ابن الرضا (@MODAFL_IR) August 6, 2026

He further warned that countries relying on foreign suppliers for military superiority would soon realise that Iran’s domestically developed defence technology surpasses regional military hardware.

The statements follow fresh tensions after US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened “very soon.” The Strait of Hormuz, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes for oil and liquefied natural gas exports.

Trump said the United States was engaged in “very good discussions” with Iranian officials and suggested that both sides were talking about reopening the strategic waterway. He also claimed Tehran had reached out seeking negotiations and said significant progress had been made.

However, Iran swiftly rejected those assertions. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that Tehran was “not holding any negotiations with the United States at present,” adding that the country’s diplomatic team remained in Tehran except for Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was on a pilgrimage in Iraq.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance described Iran’s leadership as divided, saying negotiations would be “messy” and “take some time.” In an interview with Fox News, Vance said Washington would continue using military, economic and diplomatic tools to achieve its objectives, while maintaining that Iran would never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. (ANI)