Karimi Qodosi: Tape of Missile Negotiations with the French Exists

Javad Karimi Qodosi, a member of parliament from Mashhad and a member of the Stability Front, has once again reported on the negotiations between Hassan Rouhani's government and France regarding the missile capabilities of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stating that a 'tape' of these negotiations exists. His interview with the 'House of the Nation' news agency was published early Thursday, April 15. This conservative representative responded to the question of whether Rouhani's government's policy has played a role in reducing the risk of military attack on Iran by saying: 'In fact, their policy encouraged the intensification of sanctions against Iran.' He continued: 'The very essence of soft logic is this. When Mr. Zarif said that America could disable our defense system with a bomb, it exactly encourages this. Just as they are currently in missile negotiations with the French.' Meanwhile, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry and other officials have denied negotiations with France over the Islamic Republic's missile program. In response to the Foreign Ministry's denial, Karimi Qodosi stated: 'I told Mr. Zarif that the tape of your negotiations exists. He said all your news is correct; however, we do not negotiate but rather converse. Now see; my disagreement with Mr. Zarif is over the keyword of negotiation and conversation.' Karimi Qodosi had previously spoken about Iran's missile negotiations with France. He referenced the statements of Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign Minister, last January, who warned Iran that if negotiations regarding its ballistic missile program did not yield results, Paris was ready to impose severe sanctions against the Islamic Republic. However, Bahram Qasemi, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, and Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, the Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Islamic Republic, rejected the French Foreign Minister's remarks about negotiations with Iran regarding its missile program. France has repeatedly called for the cessation of all activities related to ballistic missile programs capable of carrying nuclear warheads, stating that this program undermines stability in the Middle East. In another part of the interview, Javad Karimi Qodosi severely criticized former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stating: 'The main cause of today's misfortunes is Ahmadinejad. He gained votes from the impoverished classes with the slogan of reviving the discourse of the Imam and leadership during his ninth government, but the tenth government was under the influence of liberalism.' He added: 'In the second two years of the tenth government, he sought to extort the system. He abandoned the market, causing the situation to deteriorate. Currency, chicken, and eggs became expensive.' Javad Karimi Qodosi mentioned that he initially supported Ahmadinejad's government but later distanced himself. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and his close associates supported Ahmadinejad during his presidency, but their disagreements began after the conflict over the dismissal of the Minister of Intelligence and the 11-day house arrest of the Iranian president.