Continued Interpretation of 'Heroic Flexibility'; Former MP Says JCPOA File Will Be Archived

Ali Shamkhani's resignation from the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council coincided with Ali Khamenei's remarks about 'heroic flexibility,' increasing discussions about the future of the JCPOA in Iran. Just hours after the Supreme Leader deemed the interpretation of 'heroic flexibility' by 'some inside' as 'incorrect,' unofficial news emerged about Shamkhani's resignation from the Secretary position. With Shamkhani's departure from this security body, which had also become a supportive arm of the Foreign Ministry in recent months, the former head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament stated that the type of change that has occurred in the National Security Council signifies the transfer of foreign policy files from the Security Council to the Foreign Ministry and the archiving of the JCPOA issue. Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh told a domestic newspaper, 'The JCPOA is a file that was exchanged between the Foreign Ministry and the Secretariat of the Security Council, and now I hope that with this change, the Foreign Ministry will form a strong team of experts within the ministry to address the JCPOA.' On the other hand, Saeed Jalili, representative of Ali Khamenei in the Supreme National Security Council, who has previously served as both the Secretary of this council and the head of Iran's nuclear negotiating team, referred to the Supreme Leader's recent speech and his explanation of 'heroic flexibility' on Tuesday, June 2, stating: 'Heroic flexibility does not mean compromising the rights of the nation and ignoring national interests; rather, it means that in the face of obstacles, we neither retreat nor consider it a deadlock; instead, we seek new ways to achieve our goals.' Ali Khamenei, on May 30, stated in a speech to officials of the Foreign Ministry: 'A few years ago, when the concept of 'heroic flexibility' was introduced, there were incorrect interpretations both abroad and by some inside; because expediency means finding a way to overcome difficult obstacles and continue the path to achieve the goal.' Despite the efforts of the Biden administration in the U.S. to revive the JCPOA from 2020 to 2022, negotiations to revive the JCPOA were suspended last summer due to what was termed the Islamic Republic's 'extravagant demands.' Following the protest events in the second half of 1401 (2022), these negotiations were deprioritized by the U.S. government. However, Islamic Republic officials have consistently tried to keep the dialogue open and present themselves as interested in reaching an agreement, which they prefer to call 'dignified.'