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Iran's Parliament Speaker Qalibaf: Trump's threat derailed talks
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf confronted US Vice President JD Vance during negotiations in Switzerland over a threatening message from US President Donald Trump. The Iranian delegation withdrew from direct talks, stating they would not negotiate under threat.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf came face to face with US Vice President JD Vance at the negotiating table in Switzerland last Sunday. According to sources who spoke to the Wall Street Journal, the tension was ignited by a threatening post from US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform.
Trump had said he would resume attacks if Iran failed to curb Hezbollah's capacity in Lebanon. Qalibaf, who did not have his phone with him, was informed of Trump's threat by his aides.
Qalibaf's direct response to Vance
Sources said Qalibaf calmly told Vance that Trump's threats violated the opening paragraph of a memorandum of understanding signed electronically between Washington and Tehran a few days earlier. That paragraph stipulates that neither side shall attack the other.
In an interview with Iranian state television, Qalibaf recounted telling Vance, "Your president hurled threats today. Understand this, we never negotiate under threat or pressure." The Iranian official also said the US side requested a new meeting through mediators but they refused.
Iranian delegation withdraws from direct talks
According to sources who spoke to the Wall Street Journal, the negotiations came to the brink of collapse following Trump's message. The Iranian negotiating team withdrew from direct talks after Vance justified the president's action as an explanation of what could happen if Tehran violated the agreement.
A US official, however, argued that Vance had requested a break to give the Iranians time to consider proposals and that Trump's post had nothing to do with it. Vance suggested the post was a response to Iran's "verbal sparring" and aimed to "set the record straight."
Negotiations continue indirectly
After Iran announced it had ended the weekend talks, Qalibaf and his delegation left the luxury negotiation building and moved to the small hotel where they were staying. Sources indicated that indirect negotiations are continuing through Pakistani and Qatari mediators.
The Wall Street Journal wrote that mediators warned Trump's social media posts repeatedly derailed the diplomatic process and that they were trying to persuade Iran to ignore his public rhetoric and focus on private negotiations.
Iranian negotiators reading 'The Art of the Deal'
Trump's unconventional negotiating style has spurred Iranian negotiators into action. According to the Wall Street Journal, the team has begun reading "The Art of the Deal," the book the president co-authored with journalist Tony Schwartz in 1987, detailing his negotiation tactics as a real estate mogul.
In the book, Trump recommends using tough and unexpected demands to unsettle opponents and extract concessions. While mediators reported that Iranian negotiators are utilizing a team of psychologists to understand Trump's mindset, a source close to the matter said Tehran is steering clear of psychological speculation and focusing on the facts.
Political analysts and mediators note that Trump's noise and threats have so far failed to extract additional concessions from Iran. According to sources, Iran thwarted US efforts to include a reference to the International Atomic Energy Agency, while Washington insists the agency's role should remain a separate track. The coming days will show whether Trump's negotiating style succeeds on critical issues such as the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran's nuclear program, and ballistic missiles.
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