Iran Urges US Not to Be Swayed by Israeli 'Whispers' in Nuclear Negotiations
Iran has urged the United States to assess its interests independently from Israeli influence in negotiations regarding Tehran’s nuclear programme, on Monday, 16 February 2026.
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, in a recent interview with Al Jazeera, said the negotiation process continues and regional countries are also working to help ensure the success of the talks.
Responding to a letter sent through Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi conveying Tehran’s position to the US, Larijani said no official response had yet been received.
He emphasised that Iran remains open to cooperation in the negotiations and continues to support the talks, noting that there is common ground between Tehran and Washington regarding Iran not possessing nuclear weapons, which Iran maintains it is not pursuing.
Stressing that the negotiation process must not be drawn out, Larijani said Iran’s missile programme would not be part of the negotiations, as introducing other topics could disrupt the process.
“Our missile programme is entirely separate from our nuclear programme. This is a domestic matter, fundamentally related to our national security. Therefore, this programme cannot be part of these negotiations,” he said.
He also stated that the idea of Iran reducing its uranium enrichment to zero “is not on the agenda.”
“It is not practical for a country that has mastered this technology to reduce it to zero,” he said, citing the need for enriched uranium for purposes such as research and medical treatment.
Larijani also emphasised that Iran is prepared to face any potential threats and accused Israel of seeking to interfere in the negotiations and destabilise the region.
“Our negotiations are exclusively with the United States. We are not engaged in any talks with Israel. However, Israel has interfered in this process, with their intention to undermine and sabotage these negotiations,” he said.
He noted that Iran is ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey to maintain regional stability.
Commenting on the 12-day war with Israel in June 2025, Larijani acknowledged that Iran’s intelligence apparatus was not as robust as portrayed, but noted that security measures have been strengthened and Israel’s attacks had fostered national unity.