Hashemi Rafsanjani: Some Burn Embassies in the Name of Revolutionary Spirit

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of Iran's Expediency Council, referred to some internal factions opposing President Hassan Rouhani's government, stating that "unfortunately, some burn an embassy in the name of revolutionary spirit, giving the enemy an excuse and depriving people of pilgrimage." Mr. Hashemi, who is considered one of the main supporters of the current government, defended Mr. Rouhani again in his remarks on Wednesday, August 20, praising his policies that led to the nuclear agreement between Iran and the West. According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), he considered "preventing the expansion of sanctions one of the most valuable works of Rouhani's government" and said: "Unfortunately, some question this achievement of the system for political purposes, while we had real problems in aviation, shipping, insurance, oil sales, banking, and exports and imports before that." With Iran and the world powers reaching an agreement to limit Tehran's nuclear program, many of Iran's sanctions were lifted, including restrictions on banking transactions, tanker insurance, and the import of aircraft and spare parts. Iran was also able to access the money from its oil sales that had been blocked in Asian countries. However, some officials of the Islamic Republic and conservative figures opposing the JCPOA claim that the nuclear agreement has not brought much benefit to Iran and that the JCPOA has been "a deadly poison" for the country. But Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani criticized them, stating that "right now, 450 banks around the world are working with the country's banks." He noted that "internal disputes have been raised that make foreign investors hesitant to invest in Iran," and in this situation, "the government should present the list of JCPOA achievements to the people based on more reason and logic." The current government has only one year left to implement its programs before the twelfth presidential election in Iran in the spring of 1396. As speculation about the upcoming election and Hassan Rouhani's chances of victory begins, Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani speaks confidently about Mr. Rouhani's second term: "We must ensure that the country achieves great scientific goals in Dr. Rouhani's second term." He then emphasized: "We should not limit ourselves with unreasonable and illogical statements in the name of revolutionary spirit, but unfortunately, some burn an embassy in the name of revolutionary spirit, give excuses to the enemy, deprive people of pilgrimage, and provide excuses to Saudi Arabia, which wanted to prevent our pilgrimage, while the leadership has defined revolutionary spirit for us." Rouhani's government has strongly condemned the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran and Mashhad, which led to the severing of relations between the two countries, and promised to deal with the perpetrators.