By The South Asia Times

TEHRAN - The ball is now in America's court to earn Iran's trust after high-stakes peace talks in Islamabad ended without a deal, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Sunday, as he laid out Tehran's position following 21 hours of intense negotiations.

Ghalibaf, who led the Iranian delegation in the talks mediated by Pakistan, made clear that while Iran entered the negotiations with "good faith and will," decades of mistrust – compounded by two recent wars – left his country deeply skeptical of US intentions.

"Before the negotiations, I emphasized that we have the necessary good faith and will, but due to the experiences of the two previous wars, we have no trust in the opposing side," Ghalibaf wrote in a series of posts on X.

He said his delegation raised "forward-looking initiatives" during the talks, but that "the opposing side ultimately failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation in this round of negotiations."

Ghalibaf's use of the phrase "two previous wars" is a reference to the recent 40-day conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces, as well as earlier hostilities that have cemented Iranian suspicions of American intentions.

Despite the lack of a breakthrough, Ghalibaf struck a tone of cautious openness, suggesting that the talks had at least clarified Iran's position.

"America has understood our logic and principles," he said. "And now it's time for it to decide whether it can earn our trust or not."

The statement effectively places the onus on Washington to take concrete steps – potentially including sanctions relief, security guarantees, or a cessation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon – before Iran agrees to further concessions.

Ghalibaf framed the negotiations as part of a broader Iranian strategy that includes both military strength and diplomatic engagement.

"We consider every mirror to be another method of authority diplomacy, alongside military struggle, for upholding the rights of the Iranian nation," he said. "And we will not for a moment cease our efforts to consolidate the achievements of the forty days of Iran's national defense."

The reference to "forty days of national defense" underscores how Tehran views the recent conflict: not as a defeat, but as a demonstration of Iranian resilience that has strengthened the nation's bargaining position.

Ghalibaf expressed appreciation for Pakistan's role as host and mediator.

"I am grateful for the efforts of our friendly and brotherly country, Pakistan, in facilitating the process of these negotiations," he said. "And I send my regards to the people of Pakistan."

In his final post, Ghalibaf paid tribute to the Iranian people, whose support he said had empowered the delegation.

"Iran is a body with 90 million souls, from all the heroic people of Iran who, following the advice of the Supreme Leader and by taking to the streets, supported their children and sent us on our way with their blessings," he wrote.

He also thanked his colleagues who endured "21 hours of intense negotiations."

"To my colleagues in these intense 21-hour negotiations, I say: well done, God strengthen you. Long live and enduring be our dear Iran!"

With no agreement reached and no date announced for a second round of talks, the path forward remains uncertain. Ghalibaf's statement suggests that Iran is willing to continue the dialogue – but only if the United States takes meaningful steps to rebuild trust.

For now, the ball is in Washington's court. Whether the US delegation, led by Vice President JD Vance, can meet Iran's conditions remains to be seen. But as Ghalibaf made clear, trust – once broken – is not easily restored.