[Iranian Speaker: Near Conflict During Iran-U.S. Negotiations] Golden Finance reported that on April 19, during an interview broadcast on the evening of April 18 local time, Iran's chief negotiator and Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that negotiations between Iran and the United States have not eliminated mutual distrust. However, both sides have gained a more pragmatic understanding of each other. Some issues have been resolved during the negotiations, while others remain unresolved. He believes there is still a long way to go before reaching a final agreement. Ghalibaf emphasized that Iran maintains its stance on certain issues and will not compromise. He described the U.S. maritime blockade against Iran as a "reckless and ignorant" decision. He also revealed that during the Islamabad negotiations on April 11-12, the U.S. attempted to conduct mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded firmly, and "the situation nearly escalated to the brink of renewed conflict," but the U.S. ultimately chose to back down. (CCTV)