TEHRAN – A senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution 0cautioned against optimism over negotiations with the U.S., warning that Washington’s history of breaking promises demands vigilance as Iranian.
Mohsen Rezaei, a former chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and military advisor to Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, said in a post on X that the United States failed in its strategy to force Iran to surrender through “peace through strength” and was now “insisting on negotiations out of desperation”.
“The enemy has shown that it is a promise-breaker. We must be careful; any optimism will be exploited by the enemy,” Rezaei warned.
The negotiations in Burgenstock, Switzerland, follow the June 18 electronic signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and U.S. President Donald Trump. 
The 14-point deal, mediated by Pakistan with support from Qatar, calls for a permanent end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, the phased lifting of U.S. sanctions, and the removal of the naval blockade on Iran within 30 days.
However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned on Saturday that Israeli violations of the Lebanon ceasefire have placed the entire agreement at risk, with the United States failing to uphold its commitment to restrain Israel. 
Baghaei stressed that negotiations on a final agreement can only begin after five key provisions of the memorandum—including Clause One, which requires a halt to the war on all fronts—are implemented.
“While Iran has remained committed to its obligations, the other party was required to compel the Israeli regime to halt its attacks in Lebanon. Its failure to do so amounts to a clear violation of the understanding,” Baghaei said.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is leading the Iranian delegation in Switzerland, said on Friday that talks with the United States would remain bound by Tehran’s “red lines”. 
“If the enemy seeks to be excessive, we have proven that our fingers are on the trigger and we have no hesitation in giving a crushing response,” Ghalibaf warned.
His remarks echoed statements from Iran’s National Security Commission, which declared “absolute distrust” toward the United States and said parliament would closely monitor implementation of the agreement. 
Both the IRGC and the Iranian army issued statements affirming their forces remain “on trigger” and ready to defend the country’s security, dignity, and national interests in the event of any breach.
Rezaei, in his interview with CNN earlier this month, had cast doubt on the durability of any nuclear agreement with Trump, citing the U.S. leader’s withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and what he called a strategy of “ambiguity” in the talks. 
Should negotiations fail, Rezaei said Iran is prepared for a potential U.S. invasion of its territory, warning that the U.S. would “enter into a dark corridor” should it resume fighting.
The quadrilateral talks in Switzerland, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, included representatives from Iran, the United States, Qatar, and Pakistan. 
Baghaei emphasized that Iran’s approach remains based on the principle of “commitment for commitment,” stating that “if the other side fails to honor its obligations, the Islamic Republic of Iran will certainly take the necessary measures”.
A senior IRGC Navy official stressed that national power remains the only effective guarantee against adversaries, stating that Iran’s enemies retreat only when confronted with strength.
“The enemy retreats when it sees your strength, not because it feels sympathy for you,” said Muhammad Akbarzadeh, the IRGC Navy’s deputy for political affairs said in Bandar Abbas, referring to the recent U.S. and Israeli aggression against Iran which was met with the country’s decisive retaliation.
Addressing ongoing diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington, the official emphasized that power remains the ultimate safeguard in any future agreement. 
“The real guarantee in any agreement is power,” he said, adding that Iran would not retreat if the opposing side failed to honor its commitments. “We negotiate to secure our rights, not to grant concessions.” 
Akbarzadeh said the Islamic Republic is the principal obstacle to regional projects such as the Abraham Accords and the so-called expansionist “Greater Middle East” scheme, saying this has contributed to continued hostility toward the country. 
He also addressed the enemies’ “cognitive warfare” against Iran, noting how hostile actors seek to weaken public resolve through media campaigns.