Jahangiri: Based on Polls, Only 4% Oppose Nuclear Agreement

Es'hagh Jahangiri, the First Vice President of Hassan Rouhani's government, states that according to polls conducted by 'reputable organizations' in Iran, only 4% of citizens oppose the nuclear agreement reached between Tehran and six world powers. According to Jahangiri, '80 to 88 percent of the people have expressed happiness about this outcome (the nuclear agreement).' In a report by the IRNA news agency, the First Vice President mentioned during a meeting of the Administrative Council of Golestan Province on the night of August 4 that 'opponents should only speak within the limits of that 4% and should not speak in a demanding tone.' Jahangiri did not mention the names of the organizations that conducted the polls but stated that 'reputable organizations' have gathered public opinions regarding Iran's nuclear agreement with six world powers. A day prior, the weekly publication 9 Day, which is controlled by a group of hardline conservatives opposed to the nuclear agreement, was confiscated by the Press Supervisory Board of the country. This publication had previously been seized but was allowed to resume publication with the permission of judicial authorities. In another part of his remarks, Jahangiri referred to the blocked assets due to sanctions and their potential return to Iran in the future. He stated that the government has not accounted for these assets and that 'the majority of these assets were spent in the previous administration, and not a single rial will come to the current government.' The IRNA report did not provide further details on this matter or how this money was spent during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency. Nevertheless, Jahangiri has previously detailed various issues in similar contexts. He is considered one of the staunchest critics of the previous administration's economic policies. Jahangiri's accusations regarding the spending or disappearance of financial resources in the previous government have led Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to officially file a complaint against him with Iran's judiciary. International sanctions stemming from Iran's nuclear program began during Ahmadinejad's presidency. The First Vice President expressed hope that following the lifting of sanctions, 'the groundwork for attracting at least several hundred billion dollars in foreign investment in Iran will be provided.' Jahangiri stated that 'the art is in managing the use of foreign resources,' which will be 'available to Iran' following the initiation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the lifting of sanctions. He emphasized that working conditions in the year 1394 (2015) will still be tough and called for cost-saving measures in government administrations. Prior to him, the head of Iran's Management and Planning Organization had predicted that in the first half of the current solar year, only a little more than half of the country's budget would be 'realized.'