Mohsen Rezaei: The Parliament's Non-Engagement in the 'JCPOA' Will Create Historical Problems

The Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran emphasized that a 'national decision' will be made regarding the Vienna nuclear agreement, stating that the Parliament's non-engagement in this agreement will create 'historical problems.' According to the state news agency IRNA, Mohsen Rezaei said on Thursday, September 9: 'In the matter of the JCPOA, narrow-mindedness should not occur, and some should not say that only the National Security Council's resolution is sufficient for the approval of the JCPOA, as the Parliament has the right to engage in this matter.' He added: 'If the Parliament does not engage with the JCPOA, some may say tomorrow that an imposed agreement was brought in, and no one was informed, and it was fed to the nation, which will create historical problems.' Mr. Rezaei emphasized that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic observes all discussions regarding the Vienna nuclear agreement and that a 'national decision' will be made in this regard. According to a law entitled 'Obligation of the Government to Preserve Achievements and Rights in Nuclear Affairs,' the 'results of negotiations' regarding Iran's nuclear program must be 'presented to the Parliament,' and 201 members of the Parliament have requested the government to 'quickly' present the Vienna nuclear agreement 'in the form of a bill' to the Parliament. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasized on September 3 that the Parliament should not be sidelined from reviewing the nuclear agreement or the 'JCPOA.' However, Mohammad Baqer Nobakht, the government spokesman, on September 8, referred to the Supreme Leader's remarks as 'decisive' while stating that there is no need to present the Vienna nuclear agreement bill to the Parliament, but the government will not 'withhold any assistance or information' from the Parliament. Mr. Nobakht emphasized that the Supreme National Security Council is reviewing this agreement and will provide a report 'in the near future.' 'The U.S. has sought military action against Iran several times,' the Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran also emphasized on Thursday, stating that contrary to U.S. officials' claims, the Vienna nuclear agreement has made military action against Iran 'more difficult.' He added: 'The U.S. has sought military action against Iran several times, and even once their planes came close to landing, but due to the preparedness of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic, this action was not feasible.' U.S. government officials have repeatedly emphasized that if Iran fails to comply with its commitments under the Vienna nuclear agreement, military options remain available. Mr. Rezaei had threatened on July 9 that if the U.S. took military action against Iran, in the first week 'a thousand' American forces would be 'captured,' and the U.S. would have to pay 'several billion dollars' for the release of 'each of them,' and 'at that time, Iran's economic problem' might also be resolved. The Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran, in another part of his remarks, said that there should be no rush in approving the Vienna nuclear agreement. He added: 'If Iran immediately approved the JCPOA but the Americans approved it months later, they would claim that the Iranians need this agreement very much, which is not suitable for us.' Abbas Araghchi, a senior member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team, stated on July 31 that Iran should announce its final opinion on the Vienna nuclear agreement sooner than the U.S. so that if the U.S. Congress wants to reject the agreement, 'the entire burden of rejecting the agreement and the failure of the negotiations' falls on the U.S. Despite the opposition of Republican representatives who hold the majority in the U.S. Senate and Congress, the number of supporters has reached 42, and this number of supporters is sufficient for the U.S. President to likely not need to use his veto power for final approval.