In his third audio message to the Iranian people, released on Wednesday, Qalibaf said that although hostilities have ceased on the battlefields as part of a ceasefire, the enemy has not abandoned its military objectives.
“The enemy’s overt and covert movements show that, parallel to economic and political pressures, it has not given up its military goals and is seeking a new round of war and fresh adventurism,” Qalibaf said.
The speaker said the United States was caught in a strategic dilemma.
“The reality is that the enemy, contrary to the postures it sometimes adopts, is trapped in a strategic challenge,” he said, pointing to rising gasoline prices, bond market turmoil, interest rates, and inflation in the US.
“These conditions have created such public discontent that even many of Trump’s own supporters see America’s war on Iran as Israel’s war and a violation of Trump’s campaign promises,” he pointed out.
Qalibaf said Trump is now hesitating between two options.
“The first option is to prioritize ending the war, accepting the costs of being the loser. The second option is to restart the war or continue the naval blockade to pressure Iran into accepting surrender.”
He added that a careful assessment of America’s situation suggests Washington still clings to the false hope of Iran’s submission.
‘We must shatter enemy calculations’
Qalibaf urged Iran to strengthen its military readiness and economic resilience.
“In the face of such a plan, we must shatter the enemy’s miscalculations by enhancing our preparedness for a powerful and effective response to any possible attacks, and by increasing our economic resilience, disappointing the enemy’s hope for Iran’s surrender, so that it is forced to accept the rightful demands of the Iranian people in negotiations.”
He assured the nation that Iran’s armed forces have used the ceasefire period to rebuild their military capability.
“Thanks to divine grace and the support of the people, today they possess such readiness that they would astonish the enemy and certainly make it regret any new aggression against Iran,” he said.
The United States and Israel launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on February 28, assassinating the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and striking nuclear facilities, schools, and hospitals.
Iran responded with 100 waves of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4.
A Pakistan‑brokered ceasefire has been in place since early April, but a US naval blockade of Iranian ports continues.
Tehran has refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz until the blockade is lifted and the war permanently ends.
Peace talks have stalled after Washington rejected Iran’s counterproposal, which demands war compensation, lifting of sanctions, and respect for Iran’s sovereignty over the strait.
Press TV