Jazayeri Responds to Kerry: America Dreams of a Series of JCPOAs

In a swift and harsh reaction to what he called the "impudence" of the United States, Masoud Jazayeri, deputy chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic, stated that "Americans are dreaming of a series of JCPOAs," particularly in the areas of "diminishing defensive authority and weakening the missile power" of the Islamic Republic. On Friday, April 20, in response to the remarks made by the U.S. Secretary of State the previous day, he said: "We repeatedly state that missile power is non-negotiable and a red line for Islamic Iran." The deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces also urged the Iranian Foreign Ministry to take a "decisive and timely stance" against the "impudence of American officials." Just a day before Jazayeri's comments, John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced his country's readiness to "peacefully resolve outstanding issues" with the Islamic Republic, including regarding Iran's missile tests. Kerry, speaking after a meeting with the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries on Thursday night, referred to the concerns of Arab countries in the region and the U.S. about Iran's missile tests, stating that Washington and its allies are ready to cooperate with Tehran to peacefully resolve this issue. However, the deputy chief of staff of the Iranian Armed Forces asserted that "the Islamic Republic of Iran designs and pursues its deterrent and security defense doctrines and strategies independently of the desires and intentions of arrogant powers and foreigners, and will not allow anyone to interfere in this regard." Jazayeri emphasized the "necessity of a decisive and transparent response to American interference in Iranian affairs, especially in the defense sector," adding: "The country's diplomatic apparatus is expected to respond promptly and decisively to American impudence, especially from the U.S. Secretary of State." These remarks came at a time when Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, had previously rejected "provocative actions" by the Islamic Republic, referring critics to the statements of the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, had also emphasized the increase of Iran's missile capabilities in one of his recent speeches.