Khamenei: Other Series Like Human Rights Await Iran

The leader of the Islamic Republic emphasized in a speech on Wednesday that the issue between the West and the United States with Iran is not limited to Iran's nuclear program. According to him, besides the nuclear issue, 'other series like human rights' are also awaiting the Islamic Republic. In a gathering with Iranian parliament representatives, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that his positions regarding nuclear negotiations and the nuclear issue are the same as what he has 'publicly' expressed, urging the Iranian negotiating team to adhere to these 'positions.' He said, 'Within the framework of issues we have with the U.S., the West, and Zionism, besides the nuclear issue, we anticipate ongoing issues such as human rights.' Khamenei added, 'However, if we focus on internal capabilities and solve domestic problems, resolving these issues will also become easier.' Previously, some close associates of the Supreme Leader emphasized that even if a final agreement is reached regarding Iran's nuclear program, the U.S. will not cease its 'hostility' towards the Islamic Republic and will raise other issues such as human rights. For instance, Ahmad Jannati, Secretary of the Guardian Council, stated in his Friday prayer sermon that 'it is very naive to think that they will lift sanctions and the economy will become active... because the issue is that the U.S. wants to implement the dominance of the Shah's era tenfold and a hundredfold in this country.' Khamenei also emphasized that 'some matters' regarding nuclear negotiations have been discussed 'privately and non-publicly.' He reiterated that 'our positions on nuclear issues are the same as what we have publicly stated to the people, and these same points have been communicated verbally and in writing to the officials.' He also mentioned that 'some matters have been discussed privately and non-publicly for the purpose of emphasizing and clarifying our principled positions.' The Supreme Leader had previously stated that Iran would not allow inspections of military sites or questioning of its nuclear scientists. Meanwhile, the acceptance of the Additional Protocol under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and access for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to Iranian military sites have been topics of discussion among the Iranian negotiating team, military officials, and some parliament representatives in recent days. Members of the Iranian negotiating team have spoken of 'managed access' to Iranian military sites based on the Additional Protocol, clarifying that 'access' does not mean inspections but rather 'environmental sampling.' However, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Aerospace Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that inspections 'under any title' and even from a 'distance' from Iranian military sites would be considered 'espionage.' Furthermore, while Abbas Araghchi, a senior member of the Iranian negotiating team, has mentioned the possibility of the agreement with the P5+1 being nullified if the Additional Protocol is not accepted, Aladdin Boroujerdi, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament, emphasized that even if the Additional Protocol is approved by the Iranian Parliament, visits to military sites and interviews with nuclear scientists will be 'excluded' from the implementation of this protocol. Khamenei's statements about publicly announcing his positions come as some conservative parliament representatives have previously cited remarks from him regarding Iran's nuclear negotiations with the P5+1, which have not been denied by the Supreme Leader's office. For example, Jawad Karimi Qodusi, a representative from Mashhad, reported in January 2014 that the Supreme Leader opposed the Iran-P5+1 agreement in Geneva, quoting him as saying, 'I am a jurist, and I have read this text three times, and it does not establish the right to enrich uranium.' Khamenei also mentioned that 'sanctions have also impacted this shortage of resources.' He stated, 'Government friends repeatedly say that we are facing a shortage of resources in strengthening production. I know this issue, and sanctions have also affected this shortage of resources, but in such circumstances, shouldn't we seek a remedy?' He added, 'The nuclear issue is now intertwined; besides the nuclear issue, there are other matters that can be resolved if we strengthen the internal situation.' Khamenei acknowledged on April 29 that Western sanctions have caused 'problems' in the country, stating that 'the key to solving economic problems is not in Lausanne, Geneva, or New York.' Just a day before these remarks, President Hassan Rouhani mentioned that resolving the 'problem' of Iran's nuclear file is the 'first step to solving fundamental problems' in the country. Meanwhile, the lifting of sanctions related to Iran's nuclear program immediately after a potential final agreement with global powers is one of the main emphases of both the Supreme Leader and the President of Iran. Khamenei also called for respectful treatment of ministers by parliament representatives, especially in parliamentary committees, adding, 'Neither representatives should have a contemptuous and insulting attitude, nor should the government and ministers have a royalist attitude. Decorum must be observed at all stages.' He emphasized, 'Interaction based on suspicion and assuming that the other side is scheming, betraying, and exploiting will not occur, while having good faith does not mean being naive and deceived.' Khamenei's statements come amid reports of a 'verbal altercation' between Mehdi Koochakzadeh, a representative from Tehran, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister, at the end of a closed session of Parliament on Sunday, June 3, which was also captured on film. According to this footage, Zarif protested against being called a 'traitor' by opposing representatives. Reports indicate that a previous session of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Parliament on April 5 also resulted in a 'verbal altercation' between Zarif and Jawad Karimi Qodusi, a conservative representative from Mashhad.