‘Dressing defeat as an agreement’: Iran mocks Trump with ‘negotiating with yourself’ drill –

An Iranian military spokesman publicly mocked US efforts to broker a ceasefire, raising new doubts about Washington’s proposed 15-point peace plan.Speaking on state television on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zulfiqari denied Donald Trump’s claims that discussions were ongoing, suggesting instead that the United States was “negotiating with itself.”

““Have your internal conflicts reached the point where you are negotiating with yourselves?” He said in a recorded statement. “People like us could never get along with people like you. Like we always said… No one like us would ever make a deal with you. Not now. Not ever.”Zulfiqari said: “The strategic power you were talking about has turned into a strategic failure.” “Do not treat your defeat as an agreement. The era of empty promises is over.”

Iran previously said it could not negotiate with the United States because it attacked the country twice during high-level negotiations in the past two years. Four weeks of war left thousands dead, created the worst energy shock in history, and raised fears of global inflation.The comments come after a 15-point US proposal was conveyed to Tehran via mediators from Pakistan, which has also offered to host potential talks.

While the plan was described as a framework for calming the conflict, Tehran’s response indicates a lack of appetite for negotiations.

Zolfiqari, who represents Iran’s Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters – the joint command that oversees both the regular army and the Revolutionary Guard – earlier mocked Trump in English and said: “Hey Trump, you’re fired! You’re familiar with that phrase. Thank you for your concern.”

Even as diplomatic efforts falter, the United States is working to strengthen its military posture in the region, with the Pentagon deploying two Marine units — adding nearly 5,000 soldiers and thousands of sailors — to maintain what officials describe as “maximum flexibility.”The move reportedly caught Israel by surprise, as its leadership was said to prefer continued military pressure to a ceasefire.Meanwhile, the conflict shows no signs of abating. Air strikes continue to hit Iran, while Iranian missiles and drones target Israel and other sites across the region.Growing economic pressures are also shaping the battlefield. The turmoil surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has shaken global energy markets, leading to higher oil prices and intensifying calls within the United States for a solution.But Tehran’s message remains tough.