"The ball is now in the US's court; it must make a decision and announce it," he said, referring to the seven conditions Iran has presented as prerequisites for continuing negotiations.
Qalibaf stressed that Iran remained willing to reach an agreement, provided Washington honored its previous commitments and abandoned its excessive demands. He identified the lack of trust in the United States as the principal obstacle to an agreement, citing Washington's history of hostility toward Iran and repeated failures to fulfill its obligations.
"The main obstacle to an agreement is this lack of trust," he said, emphasizing that the United States could not expect Iran to accept all of its demands.
Rejecting Washington's characterization of Iran's conditions as unreasonable, Qalibaf said the demands concerned the country's fundamental rights rather than additional concessions.
He outlined the conditions as including an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, a halt to interference in the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of additional American forces deployed to the region following the war, and the lifting of sanctions.
Describing the naval blockade as "a brutal act of war under international law," he said the measure had disrupted food supplies, trade and healthcare services, while negatively affecting people's daily lives.
"These are the minimum conditions we have set so that, if they are fulfilled, we can continue negotiations," he added.
The seven-point framework also calls for an end to the war against Iran and the resistance front, a ceasefire in Lebanon, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, Qalibaf said.
He identified Qatar and Pakistan as the principal mediators between Tehran and Washington, adding that Russia, China and several other regional countries were also working to bring the two sides closer.
According to Qalibaf, US officials had approached Russian President Vladimir Putin during a visit to Moscow and asked him to communicate with Iran to facilitate direct negotiations. Tehran subsequently conveyed its position and demands to Moscow, he added.
The mediators had discussed implementing the required measures within two days, Qalibaf said, noting, however, that any progress depended on Washington's response.
He also dismissed reports suggesting changes to Iran's negotiating team, confirming that he continued to lead the six-member delegation and oversee the negotiations.
Addressing the broader security situation, Qalibaf said Iran was determined to end the condition of "no war, no peace" and establish sustainable deterrence, emphasizing that achieving this objective did not necessarily require negotiations.
He said the Islamic Republic did not consider negotiations the only means of preventing war, adding that the country needed to move toward establishing sustainable deterrence.
"We are not warmongers, we are not seeking war, and we do not want the war to continue," he said, warning that Iran would respond firmly if the United States or the Israeli regime launched another attack.
Qalibaf further argued that the US military presence in West Asia had contributed to insecurity rather than stability. He called on regional countries to cooperate in establishing lasting security without foreign interference.
The head of Iran's negotiating team also stressed that Tehran would not accept any arrangement that excluded the Strait of Hormuz from negotiations. He said the waterway's future status should be determined through an understanding between its two coastal states, Iran and Oman, in accordance with international law.
Following the US-Israeli war of aggression launched on February 28, Iran imposed strict maritime restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, requiring vessels to obtain prior authorization and use designated northern corridors for transit. Transit through southern routes has been declared unauthorized, with those routes heavily mined.
Tehran maintains that only vessels complying with its regulations can safely pass through the strategic waterway, warning that ships serving the interests of the aggressors will face consequences.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has repeatedly dismissed US assurances that its forces would escort and protect vessels attempting unauthorized passage through the southern routes, saying such promises have failed to prevent ships from being stopped or destroyed.
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