Government Spokesman: Parliament's Nuclear Plan Contradicts the Constitution

On Tuesday, July 2, it was announced that the details of the plan known as the "Obligation of the Government to Preserve Nuclear Achievements" were approved by the parliament. On the same day, the government spokesman declared this plan to be inconsistent with the constitution. The mentioned plan presents demands as prerequisites for accepting a final nuclear agreement by Iran, including the "complete and simultaneous lifting of sanctions against Iran" and the "prohibition" of the International Atomic Energy Agency's access to military, security, and sensitive non-nuclear sites. This plan, which could complicate Iran's negotiations with Western powers, was approved by the parliament with only eight days remaining until the deadline for reaching a final nuclear agreement. According to Mehr News Agency, on Tuesday, parliament representatives approved the details of this plan with 214 votes in favor, 10 against, and 6 abstentions out of 244 representatives present. The report indicates that Majid Ansari, the parliamentary deputy of the president, faced a "harsh tone" from Ali Larijani, the speaker of the parliament, when opposing the approval of this plan in the public session. According to Fars News Agency, while the government representative stated that he intended to "make a point regarding this matter," Ali Larijani responded, "We have been discussing for an hour to solve the country's problems; Mr. Ansari has come and wants to express his point." Aladdin Boroujerdi, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the parliament, noted in an interview with the media that the harsh tone of the speaker was due to the fact that when the speaker requested his colleagues, who have the legal right to speak in parliament, to refrain from speaking and to demonstrate unity, naturally, the government representative should have cooperated as well. Meanwhile, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesman, stated in his press conference on Tuesday that "the parliament's resolution regarding the obligation of the government to preserve nuclear achievements contradicts Article 176 of the constitution, and the government's position is due to this contradiction." He added that "the subject of negotiations according to Article 176 of the constitution falls within the domain of the Supreme National Security Council, and according to the constitution, this matter does not fall within the executive or legislative branches." Mr. Nobakht further mentioned that "what is done in nuclear negotiations is under the continuous monitoring of the Supreme National Security Council" and said, "The government will certainly report its performance in the nuclear field to the parliament; not only to the parliament and legal centers but also to the nation." According to Fars News Agency, the full text of the plan that was approved on Tuesday is as follows: In order to protect national interests and comply with the regulations of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, any results of nuclear negotiations with the 1+5 countries are only valid if the following requirements are transparently met: 1- The lifting of sanctions must be explicitly included in the text of the agreement and carried out on the day Iran fulfills its commitments. 2- The International Atomic Energy Agency is permitted to conduct standard inspections of nuclear sites within the framework of the agreement, and access to military, security, and sensitive non-nuclear sites, documents, and scientists is prohibited; the resolutions of the Supreme National Security Council must be adhered to. 3- There are no restrictions on acquiring peaceful nuclear knowledge and technology and research and development, and the resolutions of the Supreme National Security Council must be adhered to. Note one - According to Articles 77 and 125 of the constitution, the results of negotiations must be presented to the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Note two - The Minister of Foreign Affairs is obliged to report the implementation process of the agreement to the Islamic Consultative Assembly every six months; the National Security Commission of the parliament will present a report on the progress of the agreement's implementation to the representatives of the Islamic Consultative Assembly every six months.