Khamenei Sets Conditions for Implementation of JCPOA in Official Letter to Rouhani

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, who had previously stated that he had no recommendations regarding the approval or rejection of the Vienna nuclear agreement by the parliament, once again attacked the United States and confirmed the National Security Council's resolution on the nuclear agreement while setting conditions for its implementation. According to the website of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in an official letter to the President on Wednesday, October 21, emphasized that the recent parliamentary law and 'the ten considerations under the National Security Council's resolution' regarding the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement 'must be observed' and issued further directives regarding the implementation of this agreement. In his letter, Khamenei also noted that the Vienna nuclear agreement 'contains multiple ambiguities and structural weaknesses... which, if not carefully monitored... could lead to significant damages for the present and future of the country.' Khamenei considered any remarks by officials from the negotiating countries regarding the maintenance of 'the structure of sanctions' as 'a violation' of the Vienna nuclear agreement. He called for 'strong and sufficient guarantees' from the U.S. and Europe for the lifting of sanctions, including a written declaration from the U.S. President and the European Union regarding the lifting of sanctions. The Supreme Leader also wrote that 'it must be explicitly stated in the announcement by the European Union and the U.S. President that these sanctions are completely lifted.' Khamenei also threatened that 'any imposition of sanctions at any level and for any reason' during the entire eight-year period, including 'terrorism and human rights,' by the countries negotiating with Iran 'will be considered a violation' of the Vienna nuclear agreement, and the government is obliged to halt the implementation of this agreement. Previously, Saeed Jalili, a former Iranian nuclear negotiator, had raised this issue regarding the JCPOA, stating that despite the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement, 'the structure' of sanctions against Iran 'will be maintained.' Meanwhile, Alireza Zakani, the head of the Parliament's JCPOA Commission, had proposed that if new human rights sanctions were imposed against the Islamic Republic, the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement should be halted. The Supreme Leader emphasized that actions regarding the renovation of the Arak heavy water reactor 'will only begin if a definitive and reliable contract regarding the alternative plan and sufficient guarantees for its implementation are concluded.' He wrote: 'The transaction of existing enriched uranium in exchange for yellowcake with a foreign government will only begin if a reliable contract in this regard is concluded along with sufficient guarantees. This transaction and exchange must be gradual and occur multiple times.' Khamenei also announced that actions related to these two points 'will only begin when the Agency announces the closure of the past and present issues (PMD).' The International Atomic Energy Agency announced on Thursday, October 15, that Tehran had provided everything necessary for evaluating its past nuclear program based on the 'roadmap.' Yukiya Amano, the Director-General of the Agency, is scheduled to present his final report on this matter to the Board of Governors on December 15. Representatives from Iran, the U.S., and China announced on Monday that the renovation and redesign of the Arak reactor 'will be conducted under the management and leadership of Iran.' In his letter, the Supreme Leader also referred to 'the complexities and ambiguities in the text of the JCPOA and the suspicion of breach of promise and violations and deceit on the part of the other side, especially the U.S.' and called for the formation of a committee by the National Security Council to 'monitor the progress of work and the commitments of the other side' as well as the 'realization' of his directives from Wednesday. Khamenei concluded his letter by confirming the resolution of 'Session 634' of the National Security Council, which was approved in the council's session on August 10, 'with the observance' of the items mentioned in Wednesday's letter. The Supreme Leader also requested that 'the lifting of sanctions does not lead to excessive imports, and especially that any import of consumables from the U.S. is strictly avoided.' The Supreme Leader's directives come amid ongoing disagreements among conservatives regarding the Vienna nuclear agreement and the parliamentary resolution in recent days. Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, referred to Iran's nuclear file as 'the Leader's file,' but Alireza Zakani, the head of the Parliament's JCPOA Commission, called Larijani's statements 'incorrect' and stated that 'the responsibility for the nuclear file lies with Larijani and Rouhani.' Khamenei had previously emphasized the need for the Parliament to engage in reviewing the JCPOA, stating: 'I have no recommendations regarding how to review it or whether to reject or approve it; it is the representatives of the nation who must decide.' He also stated on April 8: 'Sometimes it is said that the details of these negotiations are under the Leader's supervision, while this statement is not accurate.'