Iran's Response to Obama's Statements Following Congressional Voting in the U.S.

Marzieh Afkham, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, reacted on Friday, September 20, to the statements made by the U.S. President following the voting in the Senate of the country, stating that Washington was 'forced' to retreat from its positions at the end of the nuclear negotiations. Barack Obama, moments after the Senate failed to approve the negotiations regarding the nuclear program, praised the actions of Democratic and independent senators in a statement, calling it a victory for 'diplomacy, U.S. security, and the world.' In response to this statement, Iranian media quoted Ms. Afkham as saying that Obama's statement was 'a clear contradiction,' adding, 'The U.S. President is trying to evade the reality that the failure of his administration's policy of sanctions and threats against Iran forced the U.S. to negotiate... In a failed attempt, he tries to appropriate the results of the nuclear negotiations, but the reality is that the U.S. was ultimately forced to retreat from its excessive demands at the end of the negotiations.' Iran and six world powers reached a comprehensive agreement on July 14 in Vienna to resolve the Islamic Republic's nuclear dispute. According to this agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran's nuclear program is limited, and in return, some of the international sanctions against Tehran will be lifted. The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry also stated, 'One of the main achievements of the nuclear negotiations was ending an artificial crisis that was formed with political motivations against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the U.S. government, by accepting the failure and ineffectiveness of sanctions, was forced to retreat from its main demands in the negotiations, ultimately conceding to the lifting of sanctions and accepting Iran's right to enrich uranium.' Ms. Afkham criticized the U.S. President's statement while Barack Obama had stated in his statement that after nearly two years of negotiations from a position of strength, the international community reached an agreement that meets the main objectives. According to the U.S. President, with the implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran, the international community will be able to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Barack Obama emphasized in his statement, 'As a step forward, we are taking sensitive actions to implement and verify this agreement so that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons while pursuing a foreign policy that makes our country and the world a safer place.'