Messages to Syria, Lebanon carry Iran's support: Larijani - Exclusive
The Senior Advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran tells Al Mayadeen that Tehran will support any decision made by the Lebanese government and the Resistance.
Ali Larijani, Senior Advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, revealed that he carried messages to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
In an interview for Al Mayadeen on Friday, Larijani confirmed that the messages he carried were directly from the Leader of the Revolution and the Republic.
While refraining from disclosing specific details, the senior Iranian official emphasized that the content of the messages revolves around supporting the people and Resistance movements in both countries.
“These messages, originating from the Leader of the Revolution and the Islamic Republic, aim to bolster the Lebanese and Syrian peoples and their Resistance,” he stated.
Larijani underscored the importance of respecting diplomatic norms, leaving the decision to reveal the messages’ content to al-Assad and Berri.
“This is not about secrecy or danger but about respecting the recipients' prerogative to disclose or act upon the messages as they see fit."
Iran supports any decision by Lebanese government, Resistance
Regarding the American draft received by Berri to stop the aggression against Lebanon, Larijani affirmed that "Iran will support any decision made by the Lebanese government and the Resistance.”
In an exclusive interview for #AlMayadeen, Ali Larijani, Senior Advisor to #Iran's Leader, addressed questions about Iran’s role, if any, in the indirect ceasefire negotiations between "Israel" and #Lebanon.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 15, 2024
Larijani firmly underscored Iran’s unwavering respect for Lebanon’s… pic.twitter.com/ZwrB8mH7RU
He pointed out that the draft "could, in some of its points, lead to a future solution, provided that Washington and Israel do not attempt to mess with it."
In the same context, Larijani added that "Hezbollah is a rational and logical party with many wise and politically mature leaders, and we trust them and their decisions," considering that "the Resistance is mature, both in its intellect and action."
"It does not need any advice from anyone; rather, it often offers guidance to others," he asserted.
While Larijani viewed the Israeli political and military statements as "propagandist", he emphasized Iran's trust in "the awareness of the Resistance leaders."
The Iranian official underscored that "the battles being fought by the Resistance in South Lebanon indicate the failure of the Zionists and their irrationality."
Larijani emphasized that "preserving the Lebanese people and their Resistance is on our minds, and other parties must strive for that." He also underlined that the people and Resistance in Lebanon "have shown how logical they are and possess great awareness and understanding of the situation."
A ‘New Middle East’ can only be imposed by Resistance fighters
Concerning the statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding his quest to "reshape a new Middle East," the Iranian official said, "Netanyahu dreams of changing the Middle East, but with what power will he achieve this dream?"
"Everything he relies on comes from America, yet what has he accomplished so far?”
“Netanyahu is dreaming big, let him dream,” he asserted.
He recalled that "during the 2006 July War on Lebanon, Condoleezza Rice sought to reshape the Middle East, but where is she now? What did she achieve?”
With this given, Larijani stressed that "creating a new Middle East, as they say, is not in the hands of this person or the other, it is only in the hands of those who resist on the ground."
In an exclusive interview for #AlMayadeen, Ali Larijani, Senior Advisor to #Iran's Leader, highlighted the stark difference between Iran's response to aggression and the inaction of some Arab states.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) November 15, 2024
"When Iran was targeted, we retaliated with over 200 missiles. Can you name a… pic.twitter.com/FjU4LreeHt
Great leaders are martyred, pave the way for other freedom fighters
On the martyrdom of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Commander Yahya Sinwar and the subsequent situation of the Resistance in Lebanon and Palestine, Larijani said, "We are confident in victory, and the Israeli genocide in Gaza only created people of utmost resistance and determination.”
He added, "We saw what Israel did, and we saw how Yahya Sinwar resisted them,” eventually leading to thousands of the likes of Sinwar.
He believed that "history repeats itself [in the sense that] great people fight and are martyred, paving the way for new generations of freedom fighters."
“Today, we see a great generation brought up under the guidance of Sayyed Nasrallah and Commander Soleimani; a generation of brave and capable leaders whom we take pride in,” Larijani asserted.
“This is the legacy of Nasrallah and Soleimani,” the Iranian advisor asserted, “which stands as a testament to Hezbollah’s ability to continually renew and strengthen its structure.”
The Iranian official also touched on Tehran's expected response to the recent Israeli aggression, saying, "The current circumstances are different from the past ones, as we bombed the [Israeli] occupation with about 200 missiles, but things are different now."
In a different context, Larijani touched on the Israeli deliberate targeting of the press in Lebanon, where five Al Mayadeen staff were martyred since the Battle of Al-Aqsa Flood and the opening of the support front from Lebanon.
He considered that this “indicates the malice of the Zionist enemy.”