Larijani made the remark in an interview with Islamabad’s Urdu-language HUM news network on Thursday.
He said US President Donald Trump announced that Iran’s nuclear activities had been halted and destroyed. “Let’s assume Trump is telling the truth. So what do they want? Are their problems solved?”
“As the leaders have said, Iran’s nuclear program is real, and the roots of this indigenous knowledge are in the minds of our scientists. Iran has passed this stage and now has thousands of experts. Any Israeli action, including assassinations and acts of terrorism, is nothing short of foolish, because Iran has thousands of nuclear experts. Therefore, it is an immature and foolish idea to think that our nuclear program is over.”
He told the U.S. and Israeli regimes that Iran must accept that it has passed this stage and that Tehran is not pursuing nuclear weapons but is seriously pursuing the use of nuclear energy.
Larijani pointed out that the main solution to the nuclear issue is “diplomacy” and that the Iranian government has always said there is a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
One question asked by Americans is, “Why did we go to war? If we gave up (Iran’s) nuclear capabilities in the war, why pursue a diplomatic solution?”
Negotiation prospects
Larijani emphasized that Iran has never ruled out actual negotiations. In recent years, there have been several rounds of negotiations in various forms, either directly, indirectly, or in a 5+1 framework. In any case, there were negotiations.
He also said that Iranian leaders definitely support genuine negotiations based on balanced principles.
Development of economic relations with Pakistan
Regarding economic relations between Iran and Pakistan, Larijani said that Iran and Islamabad can play complementary roles in the region, adding that after President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Pakistan, great efforts were made to raise economic cooperation to a high level.
He also said that there are no limits to the development of cooperation between the two countries, noting that the more cooperation in various aspects expands, the more beneficial it will be for both countries.
Israeli adventurism
In response to a question about Israeli adventurism, he said that by attacking Hamas in Qatar, the Israeli regime had revealed its true nature. “Qatar had some ties to Israel, and the regime didn’t condone that either.”
“The Israeli regime seeks to control the region, but this regime is not alone. The Israeli regime is carrying out these actions through and on behalf of the United States. The United States is its main supporter. This means that their common goal is either for everyone in the region to submit or to otherwise cause chaos against Israel.”
Iran’s position on Palestine
Larijani also touched on the Palestinian issue, saying that the Islamic Republic of Iran has a clear position on the Palestinian issue, which was announced by Islamic Revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khamenei at a conference several years ago. “The rationale is that Palestinians decide for themselves what kind of system they want in democratic elections.”
Prospects for Iran-Pakistan relations and Iranian gas pipelines
At the end of the interview, Larijani said that the outlook for Iran-Pakistan relations is very bright and positive. Relations between the two countries are expanding, which is beneficial for both countries.
He said that cooperation in the field of gas pipelines will definitely be beneficial to the people of Pakistan, adding that Iran has fulfilled its obligations and brought the pipeline to the border and expects Pakistan’s friends to also play their part. “We are happy that Iranian gas will help solve Pakistan’s energy crisis.”
MNA