Tehran: Iran’s top security official has expressed Tehran’s willingness to engage in negotiations, provided that such talks align with the nation’s interests. Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, made these remarks during a meeting with members of the country’s Chamber of Commerce at its headquarters in Tehran.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Larijani emphasized that contrary to some claims, Iran is not opposed to negotiations. He stated, “It is a lie that Iran does not negotiate. If a reasonable and fair proposal is presented that preserves Iran’s interests, we will accept it.” Larijani pointed out that Iran has made numerous efforts to resolve the ongoing dispute over the ‘snapback mechanism’ of sanctions, but accused the other parties of being uncooperative and greedy.

Highlighting past experiences, Larijani cited France’s unfulfilled promise. He claimed that France, through the International Atomic Energy Agency, had indicated a willingness to withdraw the snapback request if Iran reached an arrangement with the Agency, which ultimately did not materialize. He also criticized a U.S. proposal that demanded Iran reduce its missile range to below 500 km, questioning the acceptability of such a condition for Iran.

Larijani further accused Western nations of proclaiming a desire for negotiations while secretly pursuing other objectives. Despite these challenges, he reiterated Tehran’s openness to a proposal that is both reasonable and fair, and which guarantees Iran’s interests.

Additionally, Larijani expressed gratitude to business leaders for their steadfastness during Israel’s 12-day invasion in June, acknowledging their efforts to keep the nation’s factories operational. He also suggested that involving the private sector in foreign negotiations could facilitate the resolution of broader issues.