
Iran鈥檚 Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced that peace talks with the United States have progressed but are still far from a final agreement. Speaking to Iranian state television, Ghalibaf noted that several fundamental issues remain unresolved despite advancements in negotiations. He referenced the recent high-level talks in Islamabad, the most significant engagement since the 1979 revolution, and reiterated Tehran鈥檚 lack of trust in Washington. Ghalibaf asserted that the United States must earn the trust of the Iranian people and criticized Washington鈥檚 attempts to impose its demands. He added that Iran agreed to the current ceasefire only after its demands were met, framing this as a position of strength. Ghalibaf also stated that Iran had achieved victory on the ground, while the US had not met its goals, and emphasized Tehran's continued control over the Strait of Hormuz.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Egypt Today.
Must ReadThe European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council have called on Iran to permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping without conditions or transit fees. In a joint statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and the GCC presidency condemned Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the strait and on the sovereign territories of regional countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan. They stated these attacks endangered civilians and seafarers, violated international law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817, and were unjustifiable. Renewed fighting between the US and Iran has significantly reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil and gas shipping route, with Iran repeatedly attacking commercial vessels. Iran's Revolutionary Guards previously stated that no oil or gas would be exported through the strait as long as US attacks continued.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated that repeated US violations of a memorandum of understanding signed by the Iranian and US presidents demonstrate the US president's signature is "worthless" and "lacked credibility." According to Iran鈥檚 official news agency IRNA, Khamenei accused the United States of arrogance, unilateralism, and brutality, describing these as inherent to the American approach. He referred to Washington as "the great satan" for its breaches of commitments under the MoU. Khamenei condemned the US for what he termed "disregard for reason, utter untrustworthiness, and malicious intent." He warned that the Iranian nation and the Axis of Resistance have "unforgettable lessons" for Washington as the US seeks to "ignite war." He cited the courage of Iranian fighters and residents in the southern region as examples of these lessons. Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since his father, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Last week, US President Donald Trump suggested Mojtaba Khamenei was likely deceased.
Must ReadNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated his administration is exploring options to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city for the UN General Assembly in September. Speaking on The Interview, a New York Times podcast, Mayor Mamdani expressed his belief that Netanyahu "belongs in The Hague," referencing the International Criminal Court which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza. Mamdani acknowledged that it is unclear if he, as mayor, possesses the legal authority to direct the New York Police Department to detain a visiting foreign leader. He indicated his administration is in "an active conversation" with the city's Law Department regarding the matter, adding, "Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that鈥檚 what we will do, but we won鈥檛 be writing our own laws to that end."