Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran’s Parliament, has emphasized Lebanon’s importance to Iran, stating that “Lebanon is part of our body, and we will not abandon it.”
Rezaei added that "Iran has not overlooked the significant blows inflicted by Hezbollah on the Zionist entity in recent weeks and the situation in Lebanon will not remain as it is.”
Rezaei stressed that Tehran is negotiating from a position of strength, saying that "despite the pressure from the enemy in a hybrid war, Iran would not retreat from any of its red lines in the nuclear, military, or diplomatic spheres."
“In light of developments in Lebanon, the issue of violations of the ceasefire, and the matter of releasing the Islamic Republic of Iran’s frozen assets, we are facing two fundamental challenges,” Rezaei said.
He added that Iran continues to insist on its conditions through diplomacy, including the achievement of security, an end to the war in Lebanon and across all “resistance fronts,” the release of frozen Iranian assets, compensation-related issues, the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions, and the freedom to sell Iranian oil.
Rezaei stated that “the primary issue between us and the Americans at present is ending the war, while all other matters are preparatory steps toward ending the war.”
Addressing U.S. statements regarding Iran’s nuclear program, he argued that “the claims they raise concerning the nuclear file are part of the enemy’s psychological warfare.” He added that Iran is not currently engaged in negotiations on the nuclear issue, saying: “We have not given the enemy any promise, and we will not do so.”
In a televised interview, Rezaei said that the United States is attempting through various means—including pressure in Lebanon, the planning of operations in the Persian Gulf, and the creation of narratives on social media platforms—to push Iran into retreating from its red lines.
“I believe the Americans are not in a position to dictate anything to us,” he said. “They have tried all of their options and failed in all of them.” He added that, “the Americans have no choice but to negotiate and reach an agreement with us.”
Responding to a question about the possibility of prolonged negotiations, Rezaei said that American positions differ from what is publicly declared during direct or indirect negotiations. He argued that the United States is preoccupied with domestic issues, including upcoming elections and economic pressures linked to fuel and gasoline prices as the summer season approaches.
He also cited the issue of the FIFA World Cup among the factors affecting American priorities and pointed out that some regional countries that had previously called for military action against Iran are now pressuring Washington to reach an agreement with Tehran.
