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Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani just reminded the world — in plain, blunt language — that Tehran’s fight with the United States is not a temporary spat. In a recent IRINN interview translated by MEMRI, Zakani said the “war with the United States is not over — it is ongoing,” framed it as existential, and made clear Iran’s goals are ideological, not merely transactional. That message lands at a tense moment: U.S. negotiators and mediators are said to be close to a deal to halt the fighting. Zakani’s words should be a wake-up call to anyone who thinks diplomacy alone can paper over a regime that sees itself on a civilizational march.
The Tehran Mayor’s Message — Loud and Clear
Zakani didn’t couch his remarks in diplomatic hedging. He invoked a “new Islamic civilization,” spoke of preparing for the Mahdi, boasted that Iran “won the first round,” and said greater triumphs lie ahead. He made the arithmetic simple: this is not a fight over trade or treaties — it is a clash of visions. When a senior official of Tehran’s government talks like this on state TV, it’s not a lone rant. It gives voice to the hardline, ideological view that fuels Iran’s regional behavior.
Why This Matters for Negotiators
That language matters because it changes how we should read any “peace” or ceasefire framework. If Tehran’s elite treat a deal as a breathing spell to rebuild and regroup, then handing cash or lifting teeth from sanctions without ironclad verification hands them the time and money to return stronger. Speaker of Parliament Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has sounded similarly hawkish, which shows a pattern: hardliners are setting the terms at home even while negotiators sit at the table abroad. Domestic politics in Tehran can sink or hollow out any agreement the diplomats sign.
Translation, Credibility, and the Bottom Line
Memos and translations matter — MEMRI provided the English rendering of Zakani’s IRINN remarks, and journalists should verify the original broadcast. Still, whether the exact wording is perfect or not, the sentiment is unmistakable and matches years of hardline rhetoric. The practical takeaway for the Trump administration and U.S. negotiators should be simple: evaluate Iranian actions, not just words. Don’t reward a regime whose leaders openly say they plan to keep fighting a long ideological war.
What America Must Demand
Any deal that treats Iran’s elite to a cash windfall, sanctions relief without verification, or a political victory is a bad deal for America and the region. We should demand intrusive inspections, clear enforcement triggers, and no off-ramps that let Tehran pocket funds while continuing malign activity. If Washington wants durable peace, it must insist that rhetoric like Zakani’s be contradicted by verifiable, lasting behavior — not rewarded. Otherwise, the “first round” may only be the warm-up for more trouble down the road.
