Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf declared on X that Tehran is “prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield” as the two-week ceasefire with the United States nears its expiration on Wednesday.
Ghalibaf, who is expected to lead Iran’s delegation if peace talks proceed in Pakistan, said Iran would not attend negotiations even as under threat, echoing warnings from Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, that Iran’s armed forces are ready to deliver an “immediate and decisive response” to any renewed hostile action.
Abdolllahi told the Tasnim news agency that Tehran had the upper hand militarily, including in the management of the Strait of Hormuz, and would not allow Donald Trump to “create false narratives over the situation on the ground.”
Iran had briefly opened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday but closed it again on Saturday to “hostile” countries because the US would not lift its counter-blockade, according to Abdollahi’s remarks.
The war of words intensified after the US seized an Iranian-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, angering Iranian authorities and provoking another surge in global oil prices, Al Jazeera reported from Tehran.
Trump has threatened to resume bombing if an agreement is not reached by Wednesday’s deadline, saying Iran would “see problems like they’ve never seen before” if the ceasefire expires without a deal.
Meanwhile, Iran remains under a near-total internet blackout that entered its 53rd day on Monday, according to NetBlocks, with ordinary citizens relying on costly and risky satellite connections like Starlink to access the global web.
Domestic messaging apps and websites remain available, but the BBC understands that even with the ceasefire, limitations on internet access have not been lifted, leaving two main groups online: officials and pro-establishment users who have tiered access, and ordinary people paying premiums for satellite links.
Iranian authorities have confiscated hundreds of Starlink devices since the war began, and using or possessing them can lead to up to two years in prison, the BBC reported, noting that users have sometimes been scammed on Telegram while seeking connections.
Belgium’s foreign minister Maxime Prevot described Israel’s military actions in Lebanon as “totally unacceptable,” condemning both Hezbollah’s initial attacks and Israel’s disproportionate response ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg.
Prevot said Belgium is calling for at least a partial suspension of the EU’s Association Agreement with Israel, adding that a full suspension is likely out of reach given the positions of other European countries.
The current standoff echoes past cycles of brinkmanship, recalling how backchannel talks in Oman in 2013 eventually paved the way for the JCPOA, though today’s conditions are far more volatile with active military posturing on both sides.
What does “new cards on the battlefield” imply in Iran’s current rhetoric?
Iranian officials have not specified what the “new cards” entail, but the phrase signals readiness to escalate militarily if diplomacy fails under perceived US threats, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz, and sanctions.
Why are peace talks in Pakistan uncertain despite being scheduled?
Talks remain in limbo because Iran refuses to negotiate while under threat, citing the US seizure of an Iranian-flagged vessel and Trump’s threats to resume bombing if no deal is reached by Wednesday.
How is the internet blackout affecting ordinary Iranians during the crisis?
Ordinary Iranians face limited and expensive access to the internet, with many relying on smuggled or costly Starlink connections despite the risk of imprisonment, while officials maintain tiered access for essential communications.