Tehran: Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has dismissed threats of war against the country, asserting that Iranians are not the kind to surrender. In a detailed interview with Khamenei.ir, Larijani, who also serves as the Leader’s representative in the council, emphasized that negotiation is fruitful only when the opposing side realizes that war is ineffective and seeks resolution through diplomacy.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Larijani remarked, “But if it intends to use negotiation as a pretext for another [war], then this is not a proper negotiation,” referencing the Israeli-US conflict with Iran in June. He further stated that genuine negotiations require the other side to abandon pressure tactics aimed at forcing Iran to surrender, reiterating that “Iranians are not kind to surrender.”

The conflict escalated on June 13 when Israel launched large-scale assaults against Iran, with Washington joining in by bombing three of Iran’s main nuclear facilities under the pretext of preventing nuclear weapon development. The hostilities ceased on June 24 after Israel was compelled to unilaterally halt its aggression.

During the interview, Larijani recounted crucial events during the ceasefire with the Israeli regime and discussed challenges confronting the Islamic Republic. He detailed the management of these issues, including nuclear negotiations, the responsibilities of the Supreme National Security Council, matters of the resistance front, the ‘snapback’ mechanism, and the Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement.

Larijani also highlighted efforts to address defense deficiencies and enhance Iran’s military offensive capabilities, while evaluating the influence of political and media currents. He underscored that the nation’s top priority remains addressing the problems faced by its people.