Javad Karimi Qoddousi: The Leader is the Biggest Critic of Nuclear Negotiations

Reports indicate that Javad Karimi Qoddousi, a member of the National Security Commission of the Parliament, stated that Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, is a "critic" of the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group. According to the website "Payam Mashhad," Javad Karimi Qoddousi, speaking at a commemoration ceremony for Navab Safavi in Mashhad on Saturday, January 27, said, "The biggest critic of the negotiations is the Leader himself." He added, "In meetings with ambassadors, he has clearly stated that you insisted on negotiating, otherwise such permission would not have been given to previous governments, and negotiations have only increased sanctions." Iran has engaged in negotiations with the P5+1 group, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia, along with Germany, over the past ten years. However, Javad Karimi Qoddousi's remarks refer specifically to the negotiations between Iran and the United States that began after Hassan Rouhani's government took office. According to Fars News Agency, Javad Karimi Qoddousi also mentioned at the ceremony, "Recently, they boldly crossed our red lines to the extent that they wanted to export uranium from the country, and in this regard, the Supreme Leader has again rejected all positions of the President in another statement, saying, 'Some individuals say and write things without paying attention to the Quran.'" This reference by the parliament member is about the issue of transferring part of Iran's uranium reserves to Russia, which was previously reported by the Associated Press citing diplomats that Iran and the U.S. had temporarily agreed on a plan whereby Iran would transfer a significant amount of enriched uranium that could be used in "nuclear weapon construction" to Russia. Javad Karimi Qoddousi further stated, "In the positions of the U.S. Secretary of State, who has repeatedly said, 'You agree, and alongside that, we will bring in so many facilities that nuclear energy will have no meaning for you,' it can be inferred that in negotiations, as the Supreme Leader has expressed, we must pay attention to and preserve our ideals." After Iran and the P5+1 failed to reach a comprehensive agreement on resolving Iran's nuclear dispute by the deadline, disagreements within Iran's political factions regarding how to resolve the nuclear dispute have intensified. Hamid Rasai, a hardliner and member of the Steadfast Front, previously stated, "Today, the symbol of the country's independence is the centrifuge cycle." In this context, Gholamali Haddad-Adel, head of the Principlist faction in Parliament, also stated last week that defending nuclear rights and the number of centrifuges is also in line with the country's independence. Meanwhile, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, in response to critics of Iran's nuclear negotiations with the six global powers, called for a referendum on fundamental issues of the country. Hassan Rouhani stated, "Does anyone discuss principles and ideals at the negotiating table? Some people live in delusions. Today's world is about interests." The President of Iran added, "Our ideals are not tied to centrifuges; rather, ideals are connected to our minds, hearts, and will." The capacity for enrichment and the number of centrifuges in Iran are among the contentious issues between Iran and the P5+1 group.