Iraqchi: We Should Announce Our Final Opinion on the Agreement Before the U.S. Congress

A senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team states that Iran should announce its final opinion on the Vienna nuclear agreement before the United States to ensure that if the U.S. Congress wishes to reject the agreement, "the entire burden of rejecting the agreement and the failure of negotiations" falls on the U.S. According to the daily Etemad, Abbas Iraqchi emphasized during a meeting with the Council of News of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting on Saturday, August 1, that "in this case, we will certainly not incur losses and can return to our normal program, and the world will also grant us this right." He also stressed that the Iranian Parliament must "review, not approve" the Vienna nuclear agreement according to its own resolution. Iraqchi stated that if the Supreme National Security Council approves the Vienna nuclear agreement and the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic signs it, "this resolution becomes law." He added, "However, the Islamic Consultative Assembly will also evaluate it, but it is not advisable for the Parliament to approve it because there are a series of voluntary actions in the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] that, if approved by the Parliament, will become mandatory actions." Iraqchi's remarks were published for the first time by this organization’s news agency, but shortly after the publication, the agency stated that the release of this news was "due to a misunderstanding." Meanwhile, Iraqchi expressed his "surprise" at the publication of his statements, calling it "unprofessional," "unethical," "against administrative clarity," and "contrary to national interests and security," requesting that high-ranking officials of the IRIB pursue the matter. The issue of whether or not the Parliament will vote on the nuclear agreement is based on a law titled "Obligation of the Government to Preserve Nuclear Achievements and Rights," which was passed by the Iranian Parliament and approved by the Guardian Council on Wednesday, July 3, stating that the "results of negotiations" regarding Iran's nuclear program "must be presented to the Parliament for compliance with the Constitution and legal resolutions." However, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesman, emphasized that the Parliament is "not supposed to" vote on the Vienna nuclear agreement. Previously, Elham Aminzadeh, the legal deputy of the Iranian President, stated that whether it is advisable or not for the Islamic Consultative Assembly to approve the nuclear agreement is currently being reviewed in the Supreme National Security Council and the legal deputy of the presidency. Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Parliament, stated on Saturday that "perhaps" it would be better if the Parliament "gives its opinion" on this agreement, but in some important "international treaties," such as the acceptance of UN Resolution 598, which led to the end of the Iran-Iraq war, the Parliament did not "give an opinion." A day earlier, Nouzar Shafiei, the spokesman for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament, stated that this body "currently" does not intend to "approve" the Vienna nuclear agreement and will only announce its "consultative opinion" on this agreement in line with the Supreme National Security Council. However, some members of Parliament, such as Ahmad Tavakoli, have emphasized that this agreement must be approved by the Parliament unless the Supreme Leader refers the matter to another institution. On the other hand, in the U.S., Republicans, who hold a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, have largely opposed a comprehensive agreement with Iran. Nevertheless, since the President can veto the opposing vote if the opponents do not reach two-thirds of the total representatives, the final implementation of the agreement in the U.S. is not currently facing immediate and serious danger. John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated on Friday, July 23, that if Congress rejects this agreement, the power of the U.S. President in foreign policy will be called into question. Abbas Iraqchi, in another part of his remarks, said: "I have always said that if we want to evaluate our nuclear program solely by economic criteria, it is a great loss, meaning if we want to calculate the cost of production materials, we cannot even imagine it." He added, "But we have paid these costs for our dignity, independence, and progress so that we do not submit to the bullying of others." Regarding inspections, Iraqchi stated that the issue of accepting the oversight of inspectors from the Agency has been "checked with all relevant bodies such as the Ministry of Intelligence, the Ministry of Defense, and the Atomic Energy Organization." The senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team said that during the previous government, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were "almost in the facilities of Iran four to five days a week." He added, "Therefore, we have no problem with inspections; now, in Natanz, for 24 hours or even if they are there every moment or even sleep there, we have no problem because when we have nothing to find in Natanz, we have no problem." Iraqchi emphasized that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic has been "informed of the generalities" of the nuclear negotiations and the "red lines" and added, "During the recent negotiations, two messengers came and brought us messages." Before the Vienna nuclear agreement, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, repeatedly emphasized that he would not allow inspections of military sites and interviews with Iranian nuclear scientists. However, based on a "roadmap" that was signed on Tuesday, July 14, just hours before the official announcement of the comprehensive nuclear agreement between Iran and the 1+5 group, the two sides reached a "separate agreement" regarding the military site of Parchin. This section of the new roadmap between Iran and the Agency does not mention any details of this "separate arrangement." Nevertheless, in the question-and-answer sessions of various Senate and House committees with U.S. government officials over the past two weeks, some representatives and senators revealed that based on a clause of this "roadmap," sampling from the Parchin site is the responsibility of Iran. Meanwhile, according to ISNA news agency, Hamid Baidi Nejad, a member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team, also stated on Sunday that "the arrangements made to resolve past and present issues do not mean inspections of Parchin."