Ali Larijani, Senior Advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Netanyahu's Dream Will Not Come True + Full Text of Interview with Al-Mayadeen

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East and following Israel's attacks on areas such as Gaza, Lebanon and Syria, Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in an exclusive interview with Al-Mayadeen TV, outlined Iran's views and assessment of the situation in the region. The interview took place in a sensitive atmosphere and under security threats, including the flight of Israeli drones over Beirut, and was devoted to examining issues such as Iran's messages to the leaders of Syria and Lebanon, taking a position against the ceasefire negotiations, and analyzing the future developments in the region.
Full text of Dr. Ali Larijani's interview with Al-Mayadeen TV:
Moderator: Dr. Larijani insisted that this conversation be held outdoors, but for technical reasons, we did not accept this request. Why did you insist that the interview be conducted outdoors and outside the building?
Larijani: Some speak very negatively about the situation in Lebanon, and there are media outlets that deliberately talk as if life has stopped here. But when we got here, we saw that people are living relatively normal lives in many areas. We wanted to show the world that life doesn't stop here by being here and meeting you outside the building.
Of course, there are many problems as a result of the war, including economic problems, but we must appreciate the determination and patience that we saw in the Lebanese people. These Lebanese people are a fighting people, and this is what we have known for a long time about Lebanon and its people, and it shows the Lebanese people's commitment to their land and their roots.

Moderator: Dr. Larijani, the airstrikes are very intense. Just a few minutes ago, they warned of attacks close to here, and the Israeli drone is constantly flying in the sky at low altitudes. Don't you think that even an indoor place is dangerous for you?
Larijani: We know this and we know that the Zionist enemy has targeted journalists and this is a sign of their evil. Even though they destroyed Al-Mayadeen's office, this did not prevent you from continuing your media activity. Resistance in all its forms continues despite Israel's brutality.
Moderator: Dr. Larijani, when you started this trip from Damascus yesterday, it was attacked there as well. Two attacks in a row during your time in Damascus. This escalation – which was not the first of the attacks, but the intensity of yesterday's attacks on Damascus was impressive – do you think the Israelis want to send you a message?
Larijani: If Israel wants to send a message by attacking Damascus during our presence, we will tell them that this method of messaging is a cowardly act. Countries don't send messages like this by targeting populated areas. They do not have courage, and the battles that the resistance has against the Zionists in southern Lebanon show their defeats, and that they are not wise in sending threats or similar things.
For example, what messages do they want to send by targeting buildings and residential areas? The areas where civilians and civilian families were martyred in Syria and Damascus.
Moderator: Dr. Larijani, our sources said that you have a very important message for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as well as for Lebanon. What is this message that led Dr. Ali Larijani to visit both countries?
Larijani: Yes, as you said, we had a message for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and President Nabih Berri in Lebanon and we delivered it to them, but I will leave the answer to this issue to them. They definitely need to study it and examine its contents.
Moderator: So these messages are so important that they need to be checked before replying?

Larijani: No, it is not because of its sensitivity or confidentiality, but we respect the decision and opinions of others. If they want to disclose its contents, that's up to them. But I can tell you that these messages revolve around supporting the people and the resistance.
Moderator: I'm not curious or imaginary to ask about the content of these messages, but in what direction? We may ask, when these messages are for Syria and Lebanon, what is its political orientation?
Larijani: It is one of the diplomatic principles in relations with countries to respect the opinions of the people to whom we have conveyed the messages. But the main purpose of these messages is to support the resistance and the people of Lebanon and Syria.
Moderator: Are these messages directly from Ayatollah Khamenei or from the Iranian government?
Larijani: The messages are directly from the Leader of the Revolution and the Republic.
Moderator: Well, Mr. Larijani, also about this message, the Hebrew Israeli media and some non-Hebrew media but allied with them said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad did not agree with the message that you brought to Damascus. Is this true, and how did President Assad receive this message?
Larijani: Who said that?
Moderator: The Israeli media and the pro-Israel media in our region say this.
Larijani: Why are you quoting these Zionists? Our relations with the countries of the Axis of Resistance are clear and transparent, and there is no such thing in our relations.
Moderator: So this statement is completely false?
Larijani: Absolutely.

Moderator: Regarding Lebanon, Dr. Larijani, how did you see the situation in Lebanon in a state of war?
Larijani: I believe that the Lebanese authorities, along with the Resistance and the people, have a spirit of cooperation and efforts to solve Lebanon's problems, and this is a positive thing in this situation. We have seen and seen how they are following up on these problems and working to solve them at this time.
Moderator: Doctor, a few moments ago, in the press conference that I was following, when the reporters asked you, you said that whatever decision the Lebanese government and the resistance in Lebanon makes, Iran will support it. Does this mean that Iran is not interfering in any way in the ceasefire negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, even in terms of consultation or advice?
Larijani: I think that the Resistance is mature and mature and does not need advice from anyone, but they are the ones who give advice. But this question showed a questioning political orientation, which is why we said that we would support any decision made by the resistance.
Moderator: Yes. So, Doctor, during today's meetings in Lebanon, did they show you the draft document that the U.S. ambassador handed over to the Lebanese yesterday?
Larijani: Yes, we were informed of this draft.
Moderator: What do you think about it?
Larijani: There are some positive points in it, and there are some points that need further discussion. In some cases, a solution can be reached in the future, if Washington and Israel do not try to play with it and take advantage of it. There are definitely positive points, but there are also ambiguous points that need clarification.
Moderator: Personally, after reading these clauses and this document, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the cessation of the war?
Larijani: I don't want to give a personal opinion on issues like the ceasefire and other points, because these issues are related to the Lebanese government and people. But I would say that there are some points that need to be clarified, and we are not in a position to criticize or examine these points because it is up to the Lebanese government, but I would say that it can be worked on.

Moderator: Yes, well, doctor, you are now in Lebanon, the Israeli media reacted to this visit, and I have to tell you what the Israeli media says about your visit to Beirut. A few moments ago, following your visit to Beirut, the Hebrew network quoted Western diplomatic officials as saying that Tehran plays an important role in Hezbollah's decision on the ceasefire agreement. How do you respond to these statements?
Larijani: I have made this clear. Hezbollah is a rational and rational party, and it has wise and politically mature leaders, and we trust them and their decisions. What the Zionists say has a propaganda aspect, but the knowledge of the leaders of the resistance is completely reliable for us.
Moderator: The agreement that is being discussed, will the resistance in Lebanon, its environment, its status and its rights be preserved? In other words, does this agreement guarantee that the resistance will not be harmed over time or because of this agreement? Can this be guaranteed?
Larijani: The protection of the Lebanese people and the security of these people and their resistance is in our minds and hearts, and the other parties must fulfill their duties to maintain the security and tranquility of these people and work to protect the interests of the Lebanese people. I invite us to get out of playing with paper and pens and scoring points.
Moderator: Well, Doctor, in light of this current war, this current aggression against Lebanon and Syria, Iraq, and of course Palestine in Gaza and the West Bank, Netanyahu is saying that we are moving towards a change in the Middle East. How do you view this war in Iran? Can this war bring about a fundamental change in the balance of power in the region?
Larijani: There is a saying in Iran that says: There is nothing wrong with dreaming, so let them dream. A few years ago, in the 2006 invasion, Condoleezza Rice tried to change the face of the Middle East, but where is she now, and what did she do? And now Netanyahu is dreaming, let him dream. But with what power does he want to make this dream come true? Everything it has is from the United States and it has used a large part of its power. What has it achieved so far?

Moderator: The power of the United States is not small, Dr. Larijani, and now they feel euphoric in Israel. We are persistent every day, in studios, in press conferences, and in political statements, they say: We now have a dream government in the White House that will meet all our demands. The annexation of the West Bank, the occupation of Gaza, the weakening of Hezbollah, and perhaps even Iran.
Larijani: Let them have illusions, but can they make it happen? How to? By what means do they want to make these dreams come true? The Americans themselves have talked many times about some dreams, made many threats, and had many plans, but what have they done so far? Netanyahu, relying on the Americans, says his dreams will come true, but he is nothing. It is like the Iranian proverb that says: He wants to marry with another dowry.
There is a similar proverb in Arabic, but I will not say it now.
Moderator: Doctor, do you mean you are confident of victory? Can I get the impression from these words and this analysis that you are confident in the results?
Larijani: Of course, we are confident of victory. This scene that we see has both an appearance and an esoteric. It looks like the devastation that we see, but I always ask the people of Gaza, 50,000 of whom have been martyred, how do they feel? We see that each of them has turned into an atomic bomb. This war and this genocide have created resilient and determined people.
We saw what Israel did and how Yahya al-Sinwar confronted them. There are now thousands of al-Sinwar in Gaza. When Israel kills many relatives of a Gazan, this person will not live a normal life, but will seek revenge. It will never rest or soften.
On the surface, it is a matter of killing and destruction, but the inner it is that the more the pressure of killing and bombing increases, the more his adherence to his land and the stronger his resistance becomes. These people are strong and patient, and the patient and resilient person does not look at the outward appearance of things, but looks at the inside of them. Here in Lebanon, we see the people and the resistance who have shown how rational they are and how they have a high understanding and awareness of the issues.