PANews reported on April 19 that, according to Jinshi News, Iranian Parliament Speaker and Chief Negotiator Mohammad Ghalibaf stated that Iran distrusts the United States and that the Iranian armed forces remain on full combat readiness because fighting could resume at any time. "We do not trust the enemy. Even if we were sitting here right now, war could break out—the armed forces are fully prepared for the battlefield," Ghalibaf said in a speech broadcast on Iranian state television Sunday morning. Although Iran is actively negotiating with the United States to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement, he stated that Iran is prepared to respond at any time if the enemy "makes a mistake."