Firouzabadi's Advice to Parliament Regarding the Review of Iran's Nuclear Agreement

Hassan Firouzabadi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran, elaborated on the strengths of the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA) and UN Security Council Resolution 2231. In a statement published by the special office of the Chief of Staff on Saturday, August 7, he noted: "The armed forces have the greatest concern about the potential impact of the resolution and the JCPOA on the advancements of defense capabilities and are worried about misinterpretations by American officials regarding non-nuclear sanctions." Firouzabadi pointed out that "the resolution and the JCPOA have advantages that unfortunately critics pay less attention to," and he examined the nuclear agreement in 16 points. He emphasized that in this agreement, "any action by either party is contingent upon the voluntary commitment of the other party," stating: "The principle of reciprocity of voluntary commitments is observed throughout the JCPOA; in fact, any action by either party is contingent upon the voluntary commitment of the other party. As a result, commitments are executed and monitored step by step, and in the event of a violation by either party, they revert to the initial stage. The voluntary nature of the JCPOA commitments is also a noteworthy positive aspect." He added: "In fact, in the event of a violation of JCPOA commitments, there will be no mechanism for accountability or claims for damages; rather, the Security Council will merely re-impose its previous sanctions. This is why the Islamic Consultative Assembly should not approve the JCPOA to prevent it from becoming a legal obligation for Iran." Previously, some government officials and several members of parliament emphasized that the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers should not be ratified by the parliament. Meanwhile, some parliament members and conservatives have called for the agreement to be approved. According to a law titled "Obligation of the Government to Preserve Nuclear Achievements and Rights," which was passed in the Iranian parliament and approved by the Guardian Council on July 3, "the result of negotiations" regarding Iran's nuclear program "must be presented to the parliament for compliance with the constitution and legal resolutions." Iran and six world powers reached a comprehensive agreement on the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic in Vienna on July 14, and the Security Council confirmed this agreement in Resolution 2231. Firouzabadi further noted that the nuclear agreement has set a "specific timeframe for ending sanctions, which is unprecedented in the 50-year history of Security Council sanctions," stating: "One day, various sanctions imposed on Iran will come to an end. While the end of the sanctions regimes imposed by the Security Council has typically been through war, overthrow, or submission of the sanctioned regime or country." He also clarified that based on the Vienna agreement, Iran's nuclear program "will not only not be dismantled but will continue on its path."