Khamenei: Lifting Sanctions Must Be Part of Nuclear Agreement Without Delay

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in a speech on the first day of Farvardin and following the Nowruz message from Barack Obama, the President of the United States, stated that the lifting of sanctions must be "part of the nuclear negotiations" between Iran and the P5+1 countries and should occur without any delay upon reaching an agreement, rather than being a result of it. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized that sanctions must be lifted "without any delay at the time of reaching an agreement." He added, "The Americans keep repeating that we will sign a contract with Iran and then we will see if they comply, and if so, we will lift the sanctions; we do not accept this... This is an American deception." The Supreme Leader also described Barack Obama's Nowruz message as "dishonest." Obama stated in his Nowruz message that there are individuals in both countries and beyond who oppose a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue. Nevertheless, Ayatollah Khamenei claimed that "no one" in Iran opposes nuclear negotiations but rather opposes "bullying." In another part of his speech, Khamenei noted that over the past four years, "crippling sanctions have cast a shadow over the country," adding that these sanctions have created "difficulties but... can also be an opportunity." According to reports and analyses from nuclear negotiations, the method of lifting sanctions has been one of the main points of contention between Iran and the P5+1 countries in recent months. Based on what has been published or stated so far, Iran is demanding an immediate halt to all sanctions, including those from the U.S. and the European Union, especially seeking the cancellation of harsh sanctions in the financial and energy sectors. However, the U.S. emphasizes a gradual easing of sanctions. Khamenei stated, "We do not accept 'irreversibility' in the nuclear industry." He mentioned that "the Americans keep repeating that Iran must be irreversible in the decisions it makes and the things it accepts; we do not accept this. This is a domestic and popular industry and must progress." Khamenei's statements come as the issue of reducing Iran's nuclear activities for ten years has been raised in recent months. Meanwhile, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, also stated on Thursday, March 5, 2015, that the Islamic Republic might accept a proposal for a ten-year limitation on its nuclear activities. On the other hand, the number of advanced centrifuges is one of the most important issues in negotiations between Iran and the six major world powers. While Iran insists on continuing research and development of them, Western countries believe that Iran's ability to research and develop advanced centrifuges reduces the preparation time for producing nuclear weapons to less than a year. In another part of his speech, the Supreme Leader stated, "The disagreements among the Americans do not mean that they do not need negotiations." He pointed out that there were "dishonest words" in Obama's Nowruz message. Khamenei added, "One of the statements was that there are people in Iran who do not agree with the diplomatic discourse on the nuclear issue... There is no one in Iran who does not want the nuclear issue to be resolved. What the Iranian people do not want is to accept the impositions and bullying of the U.S." Barack Obama, the President of the United States, in a Nowruz message on March 19, 2015, invited the Islamic Republic's officials to a "reasonable agreement." Obama added that there are individuals in both countries and beyond who oppose a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue, but he emphasized to the Iranian people that "we must insist together for the future we seek." The U.S. President also stated that Iranian leaders have two choices: agree to a "reasonable agreement" that could lead to better opportunities for the Iranian people, or be unable to accept such an agreement, in which case "Iran will remain on its current path, a path that keeps Iran and Iranians away from a large part of the world." Previously, Mohammad Javad Zarif also reacted to Obama's Nowruz message, indirectly stating on Twitter that it is now "America's turn" to choose between "pressure or agreement." The Supreme Leader further clarified that "the economic arena today, due to the hostile policies of the U.S., is a battlefield and a war of a special kind." Khamenei identified the U.S. as the "main factor of pressures" against the Islamic Republic. "Negotiations with the U.S. are only about the nuclear issue," the Supreme Leader emphasized. According to Khamenei, the Islamic Republic does not negotiate with these countries "on regional issues" because their goals are "opposite" to those of the Islamic Republic. The issue of regional matters being raised between the U.S. President and the Iranian leader has also been mentioned in previous reports. For instance, the Wall Street Journal reported that Ayatollah Khamenei responded to a letter from Barack Obama, which was reportedly written to the Supreme Leader in October of the same year, discussing the possibility of cooperation between Tehran and Washington in the fight against the Islamic State militants if an agreement is reached on Iran's nuclear issue. "The government should not insult the concerned individuals," Ayatollah Khamenei also requested from the government and its supporters, asking them not to insult those who express concerns and worries. He added, "Dismissing opponents by officials is contrary to wisdom and strategy." He stated, "Being concerned is not a crime. Some may feel concern and anxiety, but this does not mean accusing and disregarding the efforts and services of others." Khamenei added, "I have previously said that I supported all governments and will continue to do so. I support this government as well, but I do not give a blank check to anyone. I will judge based on performance." The term "concerned individuals" has been used in Iranian media following a conference titled "We Are Concerned" held on May 2, 2014, for critics of Iran's nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 countries, most of whom are close to the Stability Front and hardline conservatives. Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, on August 11, 2014, severely criticized the "fear of engagement and negotiation" of those who, according to him, are afraid of Iran's nuclear negotiations with major world powers, calling them "political cowards." Additionally, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council, also stated on March 3, 2015, that the group known as "the concerned individuals" in Iran has "synchronized" with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, who is one of the staunch critics of the current negotiations between the P5+1 countries and Iran. Netanyahu has stated that a potential agreement with Iran will not prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran has always emphasized that its pursuit of its nuclear program is peaceful. Nevertheless, what the United Nations Security Council considers as Tehran's failure to cooperate with the international community to objectively prove its peaceful intentions has led to international sanctions against Tehran in recent years. Alongside these, the U.S. and its Western allies have also imposed separate and stricter sanctions on Iran.