The main reason behind the West's hostility toward Iran is not its nuclear program but rather its support for the Palestinians, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Thursday.
Larijani, who was secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and chief nuclear negotiator between 2005 and 2007, recalled that western officials had once acknowledged during talks that the main sticking point was Tehran’s stance on the Palestinian issue.
"The negotiating side had said the major issue is the Islamic Republic's defense of Palestine, which prevents the United States from moving ahead with its plans in the region. They admitted it openly," he told a ceremony in the city of Pishva in south Tehran, ICANA reported.
Pretext
The lawmaker noted that western countries are well aware that Iran is not seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
They are using the nuclear issue as a pretext to exert pressure on the country, Larijani said, adding that their key demand is Iran change its regional policies.
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