Speaking at a major meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Azerbaijan, Ghalibaf said that the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was not the result of pressure or coercion from any party. Instead, he said, it reflected the determination, strength, and resilience of the Iranian people.

He stated that the agreement had effectively become a declaration of defeat for the United States. The Iranian leader also urged countries in the region to take responsibility for their own security and reject external interference in regional affairs.

He said Iran was ready to cooperate with neighboring countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Meanwhile, criticism of the conflict has reportedly intensified within the United States.

Senior Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer sharply criticized President Donald Trump, saying that by entering into war with Iran, Trump had brought nothing but anxiety, chaos, and significant costs to the American people.

Addressing the Senate, Schumer said that every second of the conflict was increasing the burden on American taxpayers and that the public was paying the price for what he described as a historic mistake. He called the war one of the worst policy decisions in modern history, describing it as an expensive conflict with no clear benefit or purpose.

Schumer also questioned the administration’s performance, arguing that none of the expected gains cited at the outset of the conflict had materialized. He further alleged that President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and senior administration officials were avoiding public scrutiny and that the details of any behind-the-scenes agreement remained unknown.

According to Schumer, the details of the agreement were being concealed because the administration feared public scrutiny and was aware of its poor performance. He called for an immediate end to the conflict with Iran and argued that the war should never have been started in the first place.