Kerry: Congress's Rejection of the Nuclear Deal Confirms Khamenei's Distrust of America

John Kerry, the U.S. Secretary of State, stated that his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, assured him that if the issues surrounding the nuclear deal are resolved, Tehran would engage in dialogue and cooperation with Washington on regional matters. These remarks by Kerry are part of a lengthy interview he had with the American magazine Atlantic, published on Wednesday, August 5, which addresses the controversies surrounding the nuclear deal with Iran, the arguments of its opponents in the U.S., and Israel's concerns regarding it. Kerry warned in the interview that if the U.S. Congress rejects this deal, it would confirm the Islamic Republic leader's suspicions about Washington and the nuclear negotiations, and it would also increase the likelihood of war. He mentioned that Zarif told him two weeks ago, 'If we resolve this issue, I now have the authority to cooperate and discuss regional issues.' Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, emphasized following the nuclear agreement that the nuclear negotiations and this agreement would not change Iran's policies toward the U.S., and that there would be no bilateral discussions between the two countries on global and regional issues. Kerry also discussed Khamenei's views on the negotiations, stating that the Islamic Republic leader's approach to these talks has been extremely cautious, and he only agreed with Hassan Rouhani and his team to pursue this path in a way that if the negotiations failed, he would not be criticized. Thus, it was Rouhani who bore all the risks of the situation. According to him, Rouhani faced challenges with the Revolutionary Guards over this matter, and from Zarif's statements and the developments, it was clear how much this situation could harm him. Kerry emphasized that he believes if the nuclear deal ultimately fails, Hassan Rouhani and Mohammad Javad Zarif will face significant problems in Iranian politics. The nuclear agreement between Tehran and global powers has drawn criticism from some conservative figures and media in Iran, leading to the suspension of the 9 Day weekly, managed by Hamid Rasai, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and warnings to the Kayhan newspaper. Before the agreement, some high-ranking military officials set 'red lines' for the Iranian negotiating team, including access to military sites and Iran's missile program. However, when the Atlantic reporter asked Kerry whether resolving the issues surrounding the nuclear deal would strengthen the position of moderates in Iran, he replied that his focus during this time has solely been on how to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and if everything reaches a conclusion, then it remains to be seen what they will do.