Iran: Indirect negotiations with the US are ongoing

In an interview with Al Jazeera, Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, stated that the contacts held in Muscat, the capital of Oman, were merely in the nature of an exchange of messages.

Evaluating the negotiation process, Larijani said, "Countries in the region are making efforts for the talks to succeed. Iran also approaches the negotiation process positively."

Stating that the US has reached the conclusion that it must adopt a different approach toward Iran other than the military option, Larijani described Washington's involvement in the negotiation process as "an indication that a rational path has been entered."

Touching upon the scope of the talks, Larijani stated that no negotiations are being conducted on any subject other than the nuclear program, adding, "We have not received any specific proposal from the US so far. The contacts that took place in Muscat consisted only of an exchange of messages."

"We have common ground with the US regarding not possessing nuclear weapons," Larijani said, while rejecting demands for a complete halt to uranium enrichment activities. Larijani said that Iran needs enrichment for energy production and the pharmaceutical industry.

Larijani also accused Israel of trying to sabotage the negotiation process, emphasizing that the Tel Aviv administration is targeting regional stability.

The Iranian official added that if the US were to attack Iran, American military bases in the region would be targeted.