Iran must remain prepared for a fresh round of conflict as the war with Israel is not over, the Islamic Republic's top security official Ali Larijani said two months after a US-brokered ceasefire put an end to a 12-day war between Iran and Israel.
The Islamic Republic needs to "create capacities so that the enemy will not be tempted to take action again," Larijani said in an interview with the Supreme Leader's official website, published on Friday.
"Right now, since we are engaged in a war currently paused by a ceasefire, this is therefore an important matter that we must pay attention to."
Israel launched a surprise military campaign on June 13 targeting Iran's military and nuclear sites, killing 1,062 people including 276 civilians.
Iran responded with missile strikes that killed 31 civilians and one off-duty soldier, according to official figures published by the Israeli government.
Larijani's remarks are the latest in a series of combative comments from leaders on both sides, with Israel’s army chief vowing readiness for further strikes and Iran’s General Staff warning of “a far stronger response” to any future attacks by the United States or Israel.
A top military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader warned last week that another war with Israel or the United States was likely, dismissing the current ceasefire as just another phase in the conflict.
“We are not in a ceasefire, we are in a stage of war. No protocol, regulation, or agreement has been written between us and the US or Israel,” said senior Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) general Yahya Rahim Safavi.
The Israeli war started on the eve of the sixth round of Iran's negotiations with the United States over its disputed nuclear program.
Asked whether Tehran would focus on continued negotiations or consider other options, Larijani said talks will always remain an important tool.
“Genuine negotiation takes place when the other side understands that war is useless, that Iran will not surrender under pressure, and that Iranians are not the kind to give in,” Larijani added in his interview with Khamenei's website.
Last week he said during a visit to Lebanon that “if the United States realizes it cannot defeat the Islamic Republic through war and then seeks negotiations, we will respond positively. But if they negotiate only to prepare for the next war, it will be of no benefit to us."
Iran won't accept offer to extend snapback deadline
Iran and France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (the E3) are expected to resume their nuclear talks on August 26, Iran’s foreign minister said Friday, following a phone call with his counterparts from the three European countries and the European Union’s foreign policy chief.
Iranian diplomats last met with representatives of the three European countries in Istanbul on July 25.
The E3 have warned Iran they would restore UN sanctions under the so-called "snapback" mechanism by the end of August unless it reopened talks on its nuclear program immediately and produced concrete results before the deadline.
“Logic suggests resolving issues via talks, not pressure. Some use threats like snapback, but disagreements persist over its application,” Larijani said.
Iran's top security official referred to a European proposal for the extension of the August deadline, saying, "Some countries have requested a six-month extension [of snapback deadline], but Iran does not agree."
"We had an agreement that was supposed to be completed within 10 years; it's not meant to be extended repeatedly. This is just rule-twisting, and we do not accept it."
The ‘snapback’ or ‘trigger mechanism’ is part of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Under Resolution 2231, any party to the accord can file a complaint accusing Iran of non-compliance. If no agreement is reached within 30 days to maintain sanctions relief, all previous UN sanctions automatically ‘snap back,’ including arms embargoes, cargo inspections, and missile restrictions.
“Disagreement exists over the trigger mechanism. Iran rejects it as a new cycle of extensions that violates the original 10-year deal. Some domestically favor short-term acceptance, but we do not. Its activation in the Security Council remains contentious,” Larijani said.
Asked whether Iran might consider leaving the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in response to the possible return of UN sanctions, Larijani said the treaty is both a signal of intent and a benchmark for bomb-seeking behavior.
“NPT acceptance depends on intent. We're not seeking bombs, so the NPT is fine, but it has not benefited us,” Larijani said.
