Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the war his country has entered with Israel “is not over yet,” stressing that resistance groups in Iraq and Lebanon remain active despite heavy pressure and fighting. He added that Tehran does not control these groups.
In a lengthy interview with a website affiliated with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Larijani discussed Iran’s military preparations, security challenges, nuclear talks and the so-called “snapback” sanctions mechanism.
“The war has only paused at a ceasefire line,” Larijani said. “We must understand that a war has begun. We need to be ready and preserve our cohesion and unity.”
He revealed that the council had set up a Defense Council tasked with addressing gaps in Iran’s defenses and coordinating military efforts. “The General Staff has its duties, the Defense Ministry is active in meeting needs, and the Revolutionary Guards - especially in the aerospace sector - are working in this framework,” he said.
His remarks align with regional assessments that Iran is rebuilding its military capabilities amid expectations of possible renewed confrontation with Israel and the United States.
Larijani said the Supreme National Security Council was working to patch weaknesses in radar and air defense systems by boosting domestic capabilities. He noted that while Iran continues to procure new equipment, its main focus is on self-reliance in production, alongside external partnerships “when necessary.”
He also pointed to efforts to fix “security shortcomings,” including human errors such as infiltration and intelligence leaks. But he said the focus now was on technological and data-driven counterintelligence rather than relying solely on human sources.
Larijani insisted that resistance groups in Iraq and Lebanon are “alive and strong despite the war” and should be seen as a strategic asset for Iran, not a burden. He denied that Tehran exerts control over them.
“Iran does not impose anything on the resistance factions,” he said. “It is a relationship of brotherhood and respect, not subordination.”
Still, he acknowledged Iran’s role in supporting groups like Hezbollah: “Yes, we helped them. We do not lie about that and we will continue to help. But Hezbollah was created by the Lebanese people themselves. The same happened in Iraq after the US occupation, when resistance movements emerged.”
Larijani dismissed suggestions that Tehran’s allies had weakened. “If they were truly weak, all this pressure would not be exercised against them. If they had collapsed, the matter would be over,” he said.
Calling resistance forces “an authentic current and a strategic asset,” he argued it was a mistake to view Hezbollah or others as a liability. “They need our help, and we also benefit from theirs. Isolation does not serve Iran’s national security,” he said.
On nuclear talks, Larijani said Iran should not abandon diplomacy but pursue “genuine negotiations, not theater to justify other strategic actions.”
He dismissed the credibility of the “snapback” sanctions mechanism, saying its conditions were vague and inconsistent. “Its legal basis is questionable given the US withdrawal from the agreement, which leaves Europe in a legal contradiction,” he said.
