'All‑inclusive deal or nothing': Analyst on Iran’s refusal to join talks in Pakistan

[0:00] Iran's parliamentary speaker and senior negotiator, Mohammed Abadjir Galibaf, has spoken to state media. [0:06] He says the U.S. needs to change its negotiating strategy or risk returning to war. [0:14] The point that the Americans must understand is that the United States has to decide to win the trust of the Iranian people. [0:21] This is the most important step the Americans must take. [0:24] If they truly intend to respond in good faith, they must abandon their approach to negotiations, [0:30] that is based on bias and a mindset of attempting to impose something on us. [0:35] They have already experienced that such an approach does not succeed. [0:40] Let's explore where we're at with Mustafa Hoshteshom, who's a professor at Iran's University of Applied Sciences and Technology, [0:45] also a journalist and political analyst, joins us now from Tehran. [0:50] So, welcome back to Al Jazeera. [0:52] Given what Donald Trump is saying right now about negotiators, U.S. negotiators, heading to Pakistan on Monday, [1:00] and even the security and accommodation preparations that we have reported on being made in Islamabad at this moment, [1:08] it may well be that talks are on track. [1:11] But does that correlate with what you're hearing in Tehran? [1:18] Hello, Nick, and thanks for having me again. [1:21] Well, Tehran has not yet adopted any kind of official position on this offer. [1:27] But a couple of days ago, the Iranian officials said that they had received a new set of proposals by Washington. [1:36] But if you just listen to Iranian chief negotiator, Mohamed Bagheer-Ghalibov, last night, [1:43] you would realize that it's likely that new proposals have been the same as before and have not been palatable to Iran. [1:53] So, personally speaking, I guess that Iran is not going to go there. [1:59] If you just take into consideration what the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman said today, a few hours ago, [2:07] he was protesting at the U.S. sea blockade, saying that it's a violation of the ceasefire terms. [2:14] So, it seems that Iran is not really fond of the new round of negotiations, at least it appears to be so. [2:23] And at the same time, the Iranian foreign minister has been in talks with Pakistan's side to discuss the current situation. [2:33] So, so far, though there has not been any kind of official stance in this regard from Tehran, [2:40] I could gather that they are not positive about any new round of talks with Washington. [2:46] All right. Well, given that both sides' positions on the major issues are not palatable to either side, [2:52] could it be that the big negotiating challenges that need to be bridged, like the nuclear issue, [2:57] could it be that they will just be pushed down the road to be dealt with later, [3:02] and in the meantime, a peace deal will be struck in Pakistan, opening up the strait, [3:07] and further negotiations continue in the coming months? [3:11] I don't think so, really, because as far as I know, the Americans, though they had promised, [3:20] I mean, Donald Trump promised to just send a delegation last time to discuss the Iranian list of demands, [3:26] as soon as the talks started, they raised their own demands, talking about the region, talking about Iran's missile power, [3:36] talking about the nuclear industry and zero enrichment, as if it's the last-year talks before these two wars. [3:45] So they were raising similar demands. That's why the talks failed. [3:50] So it seems that either there should be an all-inclusive deal or there would be nothing here, [4:01] especially considering that there are many in Iran believing that any further ceasefire or extended ceasefire [4:09] would work in Americans' interest, considering that they are bringing, you know, new ammo, [4:14] a new aircraft, another aircraft carrier to the region to complete the sea blockade, [4:22] as well as efforts on the way by the United States to replenish and refill its ammo and equipment in the region [4:30] and bringing more troops. So the Russians have warned Iran in this regard through their media twice in the past few days. [4:39] But it is a fragile, dangerous game, Mustafa. Sorry to interrupt, but it is a fragile, dangerous game, isn't it? [4:46] Because Trump says the U.S. will knock out every single power plant and bridge if Iran doesn't play ball. [4:53] And if that happens, it doesn't look like victory for Iran, does it? [4:56] Is the calculation within Tehran that Trump will not carry out that threat? [5:00] Yes, of course, we are back to 10 days ago when Donald Trump was threatening to raise down or raise off the Iranian civilization, [5:12] talking about destroying all the infrastructures. You know, this is war. Nobody likes war. [5:17] But defense is the only way out, is the holy, you know, thing for anyone, not just for Iran or Muslims. [5:26] All throughout the world, if you come under attack, if they want to bully you and occupy your home, you resist. [5:34] So that's the way Iran thinks. This game is who can endure more pains for a longer time. [5:41] And not only the Iranian, but also I have seen statements by many academicians, analysts, theoreticians throughout the West, [5:52] saying, including Mark Asper, the former war secretary of Donald Trump in his first term, [5:58] everyone believes that Iran can endure more pains for a longer time. [6:04] So Iranians also believe so. [6:06] So we do not, you know, wish for war. [6:09] We do not expect, you know, we do not want war. [6:14] But there is no other way but to resist against Donald Trump. [6:19] Otherwise, this will end really badly for Iranians. [6:26] Okay. [6:27] Mustafa, I appreciate that. [6:29] Professor at Iran's University of Applied Sciences and Technology. [6:33] Thank you, sir.