Iran's Parliament Approves Implementation of the JCPOA

The plan for the implementation of the nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers was approved by the Iranian Parliament with 161 votes in favor on Tuesday, October 13, before a multitude of proposed amendments by members of Parliament were applied. Parliament members approved the details of the JCPOA with four proposals and four 'almost minor' changes. In total, 59 representatives voted against the implementation of the JCPOA, and 13 abstained. The official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, reports that tensions and protests from a group of principlist representatives from the 'Front of Steadfastness' caused Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to leave the Parliament. The same news agency states that Mehdi Koochakzadeh, one of these representatives, shouted towards the Parliament's presiding board and then approached reporters, claiming that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic 'is not in favor of the JCPOA.' According to Fars news agency, Koochakzadeh also quoted Mohammad Reza Bahonar, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, stating that on the evening of Monday, Ali Larijani, the Speaker of Parliament, Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Asghar Hejazi, a member of the Leader's office, decided that the representatives' proposals would not be discussed. Hamid Rasai, another opposing representative, also approached the presiding board and apparently attempted to make his protests heard. According to IRNA, Rasai and Nader Ghazipour, a representative from Urmia, had a 'physical altercation' and were separated by other representatives. The report indicates that the 'commotion and crowding' at the presiding board reached a point where 'more than 50 representatives' were talking at once, and the crowding continued below the presiding board. Meanwhile, Ali Asghar Zarei, a member of the Front of Steadfastness, approached Abbas Araghchi and Majid Takht-Ravanchi, two members of the nuclear negotiation team, and 'spoke to them loudly.' Several members of Parliament, including Ahmad Tavakoli, a representative from Tehran, intended to address the decision of the presiding board regarding the non-discussion of proposals and the events of Tuesday's Parliament session, but Ali Larijani announced that time would be allocated for these remarks at the end of the public session. Meanwhile, Hamid Rasai raised his objection during the discussion of another agenda item in Parliament, addressing Ali Larijani, stating, 'You trampled the regulations this morning, and it's over and done with.' Ultimately, following the chaos at the presiding board, the Iranian Foreign Minister left the Parliament. According to ISNA news agency, Iranian Parliament members approved the details of the JCPOA with four proposals and four 'almost minor' changes. IRNA reports that the only proposal raised was by Hossein Sobhaninia, which also received votes. Previously, the spokesperson for the JCPOA Commission stated that representatives had raised '200 proposed amendments' regarding the nine-article JCPOA plan. Among the proposals was the allocation of one percent of the released assets to state media and the Basij forces for creating 'programs to boost the morale of the people and promote economic development.' The general framework of the plan, known as 'Iran's Proportional Action in Implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action,' was approved by a commission in Parliament on October 10. On the same day, a group of Iranian Parliament representatives threatened Zarif and Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, with death.