Iran’s Parliamentary Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has stated that the United States did not succeed in gaining the confidence of the Iranian delegation during recent peace negotiations held in Islamabad, Pakistan.
In a detailed post shared on X, Ghalibaf explained that Iran approached the talks with a cautious stance, shaped by its past experiences in previous conflicts. He reiterated that there was no initial “trust in the opposing side,” referencing what he described as lessons learned from earlier wars.
Leading Iran’s delegation at the discussions, Ghalibaf said the country engaged constructively and put forward “forward-looking initiatives,” although he did not elaborate on the specifics of those proposals.
“America has comprehended our logic and principles, and now it is time for it to determine whether it can earn our trust or not?” he wrote, while also expressing appreciation to Pakistan for its role in mediating the dialogue.
According to earlier reports from Iranian state media, key areas of disagreement during the talks included Iran’s nuclear programme and issues related to transit through the Strait of Hormuz—both long-standing points of tension in international negotiations.
At the same time, concerns are growing over the country’s prolonged internet shutdown. The internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks reported that the blackout has now lasted 44 days.
“Network data indicates that Iran’s internet blackout has now persisted for 44 days, extending into its seventh week and surpassing the 1032-hour mark.”
The organisation warned that the continued disruption is having far-reaching human and economic consequences, particularly for citizens cut off from communication channels.
It noted that individuals without access to alternative services such as satellite internet remain largely isolated not only from the global community but also from one another making coordination and mobilisation increasingly difficult.
NetBlocks also highlighted that only a limited number of officials still have internet access, enabling them to continue posting updates on social media despite the widespread restrictions.
The situation echoes a similar shutdown earlier in January during nationwide protests, which reportedly limited visibility into violent incidents affecting civilians.
