Mohammad Javad Larijani Questions Pakistan's Role as Mediator Between Iran and US

Mohammad Javad Larijani, a prominent political figure associated with Iran's hardline faction, expressed criticism of Pakistan's mediating role between Washington and Tehran.

This statement coincided with reports of Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arriving in Tehran on Saturday to hold talks with Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Iranian Students News Agency reported that Naqvi carried a "special message" from Pakistan's army chief and prime minister to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

Larijani, who is the brother of the head of the Expediency Discernment Council, described Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as "a good person" but asserted that Pakistan does not possess a "real mediation mechanism," according to his wording.

In an interview with Iran's Khabar TV on Saturday evening, Larijani stated that Tehran "does not need a mediator if it wants to negotiate directly with Washington."

He characterized the recent visit of Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, to Islamabad as a "costly mistake," noting that pursuing this path does not yield tangible results.

Larijani explained that the United States withdrew from the nuclear agreement because it sought "greater concessions," adding that Washington uses negotiations as a pressure tool.

He pointed out that "one of the reasons for the negotiation deadlock and the outbreak of tensions is that Iran sends signals during negotiations indicating the possibility of reaching a settlement, which leads the other side to increase pressure to gain more advantages, thus hindering the achievement of a balanced agreement," as he put it.

Larijani warned that "the current negotiation approach could produce adverse outcomes if not handled carefully," emphasizing that "Tehran will not beg to retrieve its frozen funds in the United States."

He added, "The Iranian people can be assured that Iran will not abandon its nuclear program under any circumstances," according to his statement.

Iran and US Negotiations Amid Regional Tensions

The United States and Iran are engaged in largely indirect talks aimed at reaching a temporary agreement to halt the war that began three months ago, with issues such as Iran's nuclear program deferred to subsequent negotiations.

Mohsen Rezaei, adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, told CNN on Friday that a peace agreement depends on the Trump administration lifting the freeze on $24 billion of Iranian assets. He warned that the United States "will enter a dark tunnel" if it resumes attacks.

Tehran seeks, as part of any agreement, to obtain billions of dollars in oil revenues, exemptions from sanctions on crude oil exports, the lifting of the US blockade on its ports, and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation, through which about one-fifth of the world's crude oil supplies passed before the war.

US President Donald Trump imposed a stringent naval blockade extending beyond the Middle East, targeting Iranian ports and shipping activities.

Domestically, President Trump faces growing political pressure to end this unpopular war due to rising gasoline prices as the upcoming midterm elections approach.

He told NBC News that despite the destruction of most Iranian drone and missile manufacturing facilities, Iran still possesses about one-fifth of its missiles.

Meanwhile, Iran is restructuring its "missile cities" to ensure resilience against strikes.