Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, has publicly criticized US President Donald Trump for what he describes as “theatre diplomacy on loop.” The accusation follows a series of instances where the US president claimed to have ordered military strikes against Iran, only to subsequently call them off.
In a social media post shared on Thursday, Ghalibaf dismissed the narrative surrounding these events. He argued that Washington’s tendency to oscillate between issuing military threats and extending offers for negotiation is a failed pressure tactic. He specifically highlighted the pattern of announcing a “massive attack” only to pivot immediately to calls for dialogue as a clear example of this performative strategy.
Ghalibaf characterized the use of bullying, broken promises, and misinformation as a flawed approach, urging the United States to acknowledge reality and fulfill its international commitments. His comments come just days after Trump canceled planned strikes, asserting that the “perimeters of a deal” had already been established with Tehran.
On Saturday, Trump had claimed that regional partners requested the cancellation of a large-scale military operation, suggesting a diplomatic breakthrough was imminent. He stated that such an agreement would secure the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and address concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Negotiations are currently underway between Iran and Oman to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy artery. Tehran claims that a final agreement is near, noting that both nations have successfully coordinated routes through the waterway. The strait had remained a free passage until the onset of the regional war on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched attacks on Iran.
Following those initial strikes, Tehran asserted sovereignty over the strait, effectively closing it to traffic. This closure, combined with ongoing attacks on regional energy infrastructure by both sides, has contributed to a significant rise in global oil prices.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump expressed optimism that the conflict is nearing its conclusion. He suggested that Iran cannot sustain the war much longer and promised that domestic petrol prices would decrease once the fighting ends. He further emphasized his personal involvement in the ongoing negotiations, stating, “I think we’re doing fine.”
Despite Trump’s repeated assertions over the past several months that Iran is on the verge of defeat, Iranian officials maintain a different outlook. Tehran has consistently emphasized that it remains fully prepared for a long-term conflict.
“‘Massive attack coming…wait, never mind, they want to negotiate.’ That’s theater diplomacy on loop,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.
Source: Aljazeera
