US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: The already fragile relationship between Tehran and Washington has entered another tense phase after Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the United States of trying to extract new concessions from Iran through increased pressure.
In a sharply worded post on X on Tuesday, Ghalibaf directly targeted US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying Washington was demanding terms that Tehran believes were never included in the existing agreement.
Ghalibaf’s remarks came as efforts to maintain the US-Iran understanding have stalled, with disagreements over sanctions, the Strait of Hormuz and the commitments made under the June memorandum of understanding. The 60-day period attached to the agreement has now expired without a broader settlement, leaving both sides accusing the other of failing to meet its obligations.
His comments also came amid a broader escalation across the Gulf, including the UAE’s report that its air-defence systems detected two ballistic missile launches from Iran.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Ghalibaf Says US Pressure Will Not Win New Concessions
Ghalibaf accused Washington of believing that tougher economic and military pressure would force Tehran to accept additional demands.
“Americans think squeezing Iran harder will win concessions that were never part of the agreement,” Ghalibaf said in a post on X.
The Iranian official did not suggest that Tehran was prepared to accept new conditions simply because Washington had increased pressure. Instead, his remarks reinforced Iran’s position that negotiations must remain tied to commitments already contained in the agreement.
The statement reflects the widening gap between the two governments as Washington pushes for concessions while Tehran insists that the United States must first fulfil its own commitments.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Ghalibaf Calls Bessent and Hegseth ‘Way Out of Their League’
Ghalibaf also directly criticised Scott Bessent and Pete Hegseth, two senior members of the Trump administration.
The Iranian parliament speaker described the two officials as being “way out of their league,” portraying their approach to Tehran as ineffective.
He then mocked the expectation that the US officials could resolve the problems created by Washington’s own strategy.
“Stop waiting for the clown crew to pull a rabbit out of their hat and clean up the mess you made,” he added.
The unusually personal language highlights the sharp deterioration in rhetoric between Tehran and Washington as the two sides struggle to revive negotiations.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Why is Ghalibaf Rejecting US Demands?
At the heart of the dispute is the interpretation of the memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the United States in June.
The agreement established a framework for extending the ceasefire and moving toward a broader settlement. It also included provisions concerning the US naval blockade, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions and economic measures.
Iran argues that Washington cannot use military or economic pressure to introduce demands that were not part of that agreement.
Ghalibaf has repeatedly taken a hard line on the issue, arguing that Tehran will not surrender what it considers its rights under the agreement.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: What Was in the Iran-US Agreement?
The June memorandum included commitments covering several major issues.
Under the agreement, Washington agreed to begin removing its naval blockade of Iran and fully end it within 30 days. Iran, meanwhile, agreed to facilitate the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz for a limited period while technical and military obstacles were addressed.
The agreement also outlined a pathway for ending sanctions and included plans for a major reconstruction and economic-development package for Iran.
However, implementation quickly became disputed. Iran and the US later disagreed over the interpretation and fulfilment of several provisions, particularly those involving Hormuz and the blockade. The United States declared the deal over in July, while Tehran continued to refer to its commitments and conditions.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Strait of Hormuz Becomes Central to US-Iran Dispute
The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the biggest obstacles to renewed negotiations.
Iran has said the strategic waterway will remain closed until Washington meets conditions linked to the June agreement, including lifting the US blockade, removing oil sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets and ending military threats and operations.
The dispute is particularly significant because Hormuz is a major global energy route. Any prolonged disruption threatens oil and LNG shipments and can put additional pressure on international energy markets.
US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said Tuesday that the strait was open and operating and claimed that water mines had been removed or detonated. Iran has rejected that description and continues to maintain that the waterway remains closed.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Trump Says No Iran Talks Are Scheduled
Ghalibaf’s latest comments came on the same day Trump said there were no ongoing or scheduled talks between Washington and Tehran.
Trump said the US naval blockade remained in force while insisting that Hormuz was open. His position directly contrasts with Iran’s claim that the waterway will remain closed until Washington fulfils the conditions Tehran associates with the earlier agreement.
The conflicting statements suggest that there is still no clear diplomatic framework for resolving the dispute.
While mediators have previously attempted to keep negotiations alive, the expiration of the 60-day deadline has made the future of the agreement increasingly uncertain.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: UAE Reports Two Ballistic Missiles From Iran
The diplomatic confrontation coincided with a new security incident in the Gulf.
The UAE Defence Ministry said its air-defence systems detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country. According to the ministry, one missile fell outside UAE territorial waters while the other fell inside them.
The UAE issued a warning to residents and urged people to remain in safe locations as authorities monitored the situation.
The missile report adds to concerns that the wider US-Iran confrontation could spill further into Gulf countries, even as diplomatic efforts remain stalled.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest Live News: Iran and US Remain Far Apart on Next Steps
Ghalibaf’s latest remarks make clear that Tehran has little appetite for accepting additional demands under pressure.
Iran insists that the United States must honour commitments connected to the existing agreement, while Washington continues to demand concessions from Tehran.
The dispute over Hormuz has further complicated the situation, with each side offering a different account of the waterway’s status.
For now, Ghalibaf’s attack on Bessent and Hegseth underscores the growing mistrust between Tehran and Washington. His “clown crew” remark also signals how sharply the language between the two sides has deteriorated as efforts to revive negotiations remain stalled.
