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Larijani: Iran’s leaders never been hostile toward West
Missile issue used as ‘tool’ to pressure Tehran
Addressing a conference named “We and the West” on Monday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani said the West was Iran's primary trading partner for many years and the Leader has no problem with economic interactions between the two sides.
However, he said that Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei believes that the West uses economic issues to interfere in matters such as the range of Iran’s missiles or its nuclear capabilities.
“Iran is neither seeking control [over other nations] nor is submissive to the dominance of any power,” Larijani stressed.
Larijani underscored the importance of maintaining Iran’s independence "because freedom, culture, and economy will not remain stable in the absence of independence.”
He also said the West is using the country’s missile capabilities as a means of pressure, stressing it is in no position to comment on the issue.
“The current debate on Iran's missiles is not out of genuine security concerns but rather serves as a tool to exert pressure and restrict the country's defense power,” Larijani said.
“What does it have to do with the West that it comments on the range of Iran’s missiles?” he asked.
Larijani, who was a former nuclear negotiator, emphasized that Western countries also use the nuclear issue as a pretext to harbor animosity towards the Iranian nation, saying the US and Europe are raising issues about the range of Iran's missiles with the aim of imposing control and dominance.
“No country is entitled to interfere in the Iranian nation’s defensive power,” which is a matter of independence, Larijani pointed out.
The United States and its European allies have repeatedly called for any future agreement on Iran’s nuclear activities to include its ballistic missile program as well.
Tehran has consistently rejected that demand, saying its military capabilities are non-negotiable.