Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Committee, said Tehran’s approach to talks with the United States is strictly guided by national interests and security considerations, reports Al Jazeera

Asked whether Iran would take part in the talks in Islamabad, Azizi said the country “acts based on national interests” and would do whatever is necessary to safeguard its security and priorities.

He described potential participation as a continuation of Iran’s broader struggle, likening negotiations to an extension of the battlefield.

“We see the current negotiations as a continuation of the battlefield, and we see nothing other than the battlefield in this,” he said. “If it yields achievements that sustain those of the battlefield, then the negotiation arena is also an opportunity for us… But not if the Americans intend to turn this into a field of excessive demands, based on their bullying approach.”