Qalibaf and Bakhshiyan to Mojtaba Khamenei: A golden opportunity with Washington... and ready to swallow the 'poison'
A source close to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told Al-Jarida that communications between Ghalibaf and US Vice President JD Vance, mediated through intermediaries, have intensified in recent days as part of political efforts to bridge the gap between Tehran and Washington and lay the groundwork for resolving outstanding disputes between the two sides.
The source revealed that Vance informed Ghalibaf in their latest contact that Tehran has only a few days to make a decisive decision on reaching an agreement with Washington, which would resolve key contentious issues and restore bilateral relations to their normal diplomatic course, thereby ending a state of hostility that has persisted for nearly five decades.
According to the source, Vance clarified that the administration of President Donald Trump currently has a wide margin to pass any potential agreement with Iran through Congress, but this capacity could diminish after the midterm elections, especially if the war and regional tensions continue until the November elections. This could shift the political balance of power in Washington and narrow the maneuvering room for the US administration.
The source noted that Vance outlined a "fundamental" demand for Iran: abandoning the ideologies and policies that Washington considers a threat to its interests and those of Israel in the region.
Under this framework, Tehran’s abandonment of its principle of hostility toward the United States constitutes the "key" to addressing remaining contentious files, opening the door to reshaping the relationship between the two countries on different diplomatic foundations.
In light of these messages, Ghalibaf submitted a report to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Sunday morning, seeking his guidance on the response Tehran should convey to the US side.
The source stated that Ghalibaf informed Khamenei that he had "fought his entire life for the Revolution and the Islamic system" under varying political and security conditions, but he believes that the country’s supreme interest at this stage requires seizing what he described as a "golden opportunity" presented to Iran.
According to the source, Ghalibaf affirmed his readiness to "drink the cup of poison" if necessary to preserve the system and the country, and to bear full political responsibility for any agreement reached with Washington. However, he stressed that he would adhere to the Supreme Leader’s directives if the Leader held a different view regarding the nature of the settlement and the limits of possible concessions.
The expression "cup of poison" carries a highly sensitive connotation in Iranian political discourse, recalling the decision of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to accept a ceasefire with Iraq in 1988. It signals the leadership’s willingness to endure a difficult and painful decision if dictated by the necessities of preserving the state and the system.
According to the same source, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed support for Ghalibaf’s position by signing his letter, praising his political courage in raising the option of an agreement with Washington at this stage.
The source added that Pezeshkian affirmed his readiness to "drink the cup of poison" alongside Ghalibaf and to bear political responsibility for any agreement resulting from negotiations with the United States.
