Iran’s chief negotiator calls US peace memorandum a ‘declaration of defeat for America’ as Rubio tours Gulf allies

Iran’s victory narrative

In a speech from Baku broadcast on state TV, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, dismissed the memorandum of understanding signed one week ago as the product of American pressure.

“The Islamabad memorandum of understanding is not the result of pressure or coercion, but rather of the resistance and determination of the courageous Iranian nation. That is why it has taken on the value of a declaration of defeat for America.”

He insisted that Middle East security must now be handled by regional powers “in interaction, not confrontation,” and underscored that ending the war in Lebanon was “as important” for Tehran as halting the conflict in Iran.

Rubio’s reassurance mission

The rhetoric came as Marco Rubio arrived in the Gulf to shore up nervous allies. He landed in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening and was scheduled to meet Emirati President Mohammed ben Zayed Al Nahyane on Wednesday, before traveling to Kuwait and Bahrain. Gulf states, which suffered Iranian missile and drone strikes during the US-Israeli offensive that began on 28 February, fear Tehran will emerge from the diplomatic process emboldened.

The fragile path to a final deal

The MoU was signed one week ago in Islamabad, establishing a 60-day negotiating window for a permanent settlement. Pakistan, the mediator, announced on Wednesday that technical talks would resume next week, probably on Tuesday. Tahir Andrabi, the foreign ministry spokesperson, said the first technical round had been held earlier this week in Switzerland. But large gaps remain, especially over Iran’s nuclear programme and the eventual terms for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil flows.

Ballistic missiles and nuclear inspections

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, visiting Pakistan, linked the country’s missile capability directly to its survival, stating that without it Iran would have been “razed like Gaza” during the war. He declared ballistic systems non-negotiable. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted the MoU “makes absolutely no reference to ballistic missiles.” Meanwhile, the IAEA’s Rafael Grossi confirmed that fresh inspections of Iranian nuclear sites would occur, but foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei denied inspectors would examine facilities bombed by Washington last year.