Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned the United States on Sunday against making threats toward Tehran, saying Iran’s armed forces are prepared to respond if necessary, as delicate peace negotiations continued in Switzerland.
Ghalibaf’s comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further military action against Iran over its support for Hezbollah, raising new concerns about the stability of diplomatic efforts launched earlier this month.
“Do they not think that if their threats were effective, they would not have reached the desperate situation they are in now? We do not take U.S. threats into account,” Ghalibaf said, according to AFP.
“They should be careful with their statements. Our armed forces are ready to respond to them in different ways. Whatever they say, we are the ones who will act,” he added.
The remarks followed a warning issued by Trump on his Truth Social platform, where he demanded that Iran curb the activities of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group operating in Lebanon.
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble,” Trump wrote.
“If they do not, we will hit Iran very hard again, like we did last week, even harder!!!” he added.
The exchange underscored the fragile nature of ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has repeatedly threatened to undermine attempts to secure a broader peace framework in the region.
Despite those concerns, there were no reports of renewed Israeli strikes or major clashes in Lebanon by Sunday evening, offering a measure of relief to negotiators gathered in Switzerland.
Ghalibaf’s comments came as U.S. and Iranian officials continued talks near Lake Lucerne with mediation from Pakistan and Qatar. The discussions follow the signing of a preliminary agreement earlier this week designed to establish a pathway toward ending the conflict and addressing broader regional disputes.
Iranian news agency Fars reported that Trump’s latest threats had prompted a temporary suspension of the negotiations. However, a diplomat familiar with the talks said Iran had not withdrawn from the process.
“The Iranian delegation remains engaged in the talks and has not indicated to the mediators any intention to leave,” the diplomat said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions.
The diplomatic tensions are particularly significant because the memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran earlier this month contains explicit language requiring both sides to refrain from threatening or using force against one another.
Article 1 of the agreement states that the United States and Iran pledge to avoid threats or acts of violence against each other while negotiations are underway.
Diplomats involved in the process have expressed concern that escalating rhetoric from either side could complicate efforts to reach a comprehensive agreement within the 60-day negotiation period established under the preliminary deal.
While the talks continue, officials from both countries face mounting pressure to demonstrate progress on key issues, including regional security, Iran’s nuclear program and the future of maritime trade routes in the Persian Gulf.
For now, negotiators remain at the table, but Sunday’s sharp exchange highlighted how quickly tensions between Washington and Tehran could threaten the fragile diplomatic opening that emerged after months of conflict.
