Consensus for 'Heroic Flexibility'

There is not much time left until December 3rd; the six-month extension of the Geneva agreement is coming to an end. Evidence suggests that negotiations have been prolonged and have been intensively ongoing for about a year and a half. The Islamic Republic has increasingly and intriguingly reached a consensus for 'heroic flexibility' and achieving an agreement. The talks, which could be considered the most significant event for the Islamic Republic in the realm of international politics, have become a unique occurrence; an event that might only be comparable to the end of the war and the acceptance of a ceasefire by Ayatollah Khomeini when he drank the 'cup of poison.' The importance of negotiating with the 5+1 and reaching an agreement is such that even the 'far-right' in Iran has adopted a position of silence, alignment, and satisfaction. This stance is based on the position and status of the Supreme Leader in the nuclear negotiations. The necessity of 'heroic flexibility' as much as possible, and the core power's view in the system to reach an agreement, has created an unwritten 'directive' directed at the most important platforms of the far-right and well-known voices of the totalitarian movement. Recently, political figures close to the Supreme Leader and the closest political faces of the government have expressed noteworthy opinions. A brief look at some of these positions crystallizes and makes tangible the determination of the ruling authoritarian figures in the Islamic Republic to achieve an agreement, and the strategic and vital importance of the nuclear negotiations. 1. The position of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces: Hassan Firouzabadi, one of the closest senior military commanders to Ayatollah Khamenei, in his latest statement praising the efforts of the Rouhani administration's diplomatic apparatus, said: 'I evaluate Mr. Zarif and his honest colleagues' role in these negotiations as jihad-like.' In response to the question of whether he is optimistic about the negotiations, he refrains from expressing a negative opinion, saying: 'From the very beginning, I have stated that I consider these negotiations an opportunity.' 2. The position of the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps: Any explanation regarding the importance and position of the IRGC in the political and economic landscape of the Islamic Republic is somewhat superfluous. With this assumption, and referring to the specific role of senior IRGC commanders, the comments of Major General Aziz Jafari become more significant. The Commander of the IRGC, who previously stated that the Supreme Leader 'allowed nuclear negotiations within the framework of heroic flexibility,' recently added: 'If the nuclear negotiations, God willing, yield results, everyone will see that we have not compromised our rights.' Although he stated that 'of course, it is possible that in these negotiations, a blow may be dealt to the dignity of the Iranian nation,' he simultaneously described the effort to lift all sanctions as one of Iran's goals from the negotiations and said: 'God willing, this goal will also be achieved.' 3. The position of the Head of the Judiciary: The appointed head of the Islamic Republic's judiciary, among the prominent figures aligned with authoritarianism, and his subordinates, are among the notable figures known for suppressing democracy-seekers and peace advocates. Sadegh Amoli Larijani emphasized in one of his recent statements: 'We have repeatedly declared our support for the negotiating team, and now we want the negotiating officials to not step back from the rights of the nation in accordance with the policies announced by the Supreme Leader and the Islamic system.' It is clear that he is aware of the will and decision of the central power, and he strives to align his position accordingly, merely adding: 'The negotiating team must stand firm on the rights of the nation and the scientific and research activities and advancements of the country's scholars.' 4. The position of the Secretary of the Guardian Council: Ahmad Jannati and his political record, as well as the influential institution he leads (the Guardian Council), are well-known. He is classified among the most prominent voices of the far-right and in a recent Friday prayer speech in Tehran, he made significant remarks: 'I do not know what to say about the nuclear issue because I do not know what it is and what the news is. Some issues are mentioned, and some are not mentioned, perhaps because it is not appropriate to say them. Therefore, I cannot say, and not all issues can be expressed.' Jannati, who clearly acted according to the 'recommendation' for silence and alignment with the negotiation process, addressed the nuclear negotiating team, saying: 'Know that the Supreme Leader and the people support you.' 5. The position of the Friday Prayer Leader of Mashhad: Alim al-Huda, the Friday Prayer Leader of Mashhad, may not be particularly analyzable as an individual, but he is a prominent representative of an important platform such as Friday prayers and clerics aligned with totalitarianism. In his recent Friday prayer speech in Mashhad, he made noteworthy remarks: 'An agreement in the negotiations does not mean the political revival of a specific faction. If we reach a desirable agreement and the Supreme Leader approves it, a political faction has no right to claim that this negotiation was its strategy, and if we do not reach an agreement, some opportunistic elements have no right to exploit the situation and raise prices.' He also emphasized the necessity of pursuing negotiations, adding: 'If it is determined that we do not reach an agreement and this process continues, we must continue negotiations while preserving the dignity of Islam and this nation... Our people have once experienced drinking the cup of poison during the time of their oppressed Imam, and we must not do anything that would force the Supreme Leader to drink this cup of poison again.' 6. The position of the Head of the Basij Organization: Mohammad Reza Naqdi, the head of the Basij of the Oppressed, is considered a prominent figure of repression and violence, and also a significant voice of the far-right. Naqdi, like his fellow thinkers, has recently taken a meaningful position; he has confirmed the positions of the negotiating team, stating: 'The nuclear negotiating team has so far preserved Iran's dignity, and we expect them to continue on this path.' Interestingly, the head of the Basij also encourages the Western side to compromise: 'The Basij expects the U.S. to set aside its bullying and excessive demands. Achieving a good, fair agreement without injustice is certainly possible.' He fully stands alongside the diplomatic apparatus of the moderate government, stating: 'There are two scenarios; one is that the negotiating team restores our nation's rights and reaches a good agreement, which we all support. The second is that the negotiating team sees that Iran's rights are being trampled and abandons the negotiations, refusing to agree, and again the Basij and all the people will fully support it. But if, God forbid, the rights of the people are violated, no one will support it.' 7. The position of Kayhan Newspaper: Hossein Shariatmadari, the appointed editor of the Kayhan newspaper by the Supreme Leader, has also changed the output of this important far-right platform in recent days. Although Kayhan still views negotiations with the West pessimistically and effectively reproduces and promotes the views of the first person in the system, it simultaneously limits itself to 'recommendations' and 'warnings' to the Iranian delegation and, by threatening the opposing parties, somewhat encourages them to compromise. The output of Kayhan and other media belonging to the far-right camp has noticeably changed from their media-political behavior a few months ago. It seems that for Shariatmadari and his allies, it has become clear—and sufficiently justified—that they must confront the issue more realistically and appreciate the existing opportunity, or at least avoid centrifugal actions despite their dissatisfaction. 8. The position of the pragmatic conservatives: When the far-right's position is such, the approach and viewpoint of that part of the 'right' known for pragmatism and defining itself in the realm of moderate conservatives is predictable. Figures like Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Parliament, or Ali Akbar Velayati, the international advisor to the Supreme Leader, have expressed positions that are predictably aligned with the moderate government and sympathetic to negotiation and agreement. Larijani advises the members of the 1+5 group to take advantage of the existing opportunity because, according to him, 'it is unclear whether the passage of time will be in their favor.' He explains that 'what Iran has offered has been flexible.' He reflects the 'heroic flexibility' and the central power's perspective. The Speaker of the Islamic Republic's Parliament also emphasizes that 'Iran's representatives in the negotiations are prepared and eager for the negotiations to succeed.' Velayati, in response to the claim that some assert a nuclear agreement has been reached and crossed the system's red lines, said: 'This is absolutely not the case; our negotiators are following the system and its red lines determined by the Supreme Leader.' The senior advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei reiterates that what is happening is occurring in coordination with the top of the political system. And indeed, various layers of the authoritarian movement in Iran, with different motivations and starting points, and due to a decision made at the core of power, and under the supreme oversight of the Supreme Leader, show alignment and solidarity with the ongoing negotiations. The extent to which Tehran is willing to show 'heroic flexibility' and what concessions the Western side—especially Washington—will give in return, and which sanctions will be lifted, is an entirely different matter. The important—and indeed hopeful—point for those concerned with national interests is the political regime's effort in Iran to engage with the West and retreat from its astronomical costs and rhetorical and practical adventures in the nuclear energy field. This decision and approach, regardless of the reasoning and analysis behind it, is beneficial for Iranians and also for civil society, and in favor of revitalizing the cultural/modern middle class of the country. A situation that can be assessed as supportive and affirming of democratization.