Naghdi: The File of Optimism Towards America Has Been Sent to the Trash Bin of History

Simultaneously with the criticisms of principlists against Hassan Rouhani's government regarding the seizure of Iran's assets in America, the head of the Basij Organization announced that the "file of optimism" towards negotiations with America has been sent to the "trash bin of history" and that those who remain optimistic about this country will also join it if they do not wake up. Mohammad Reza Naghdi, on Sunday, April 25, referring to the seizure of two billion dollars of Iran's assets in America, said: "Not only this money but also the money that the Shah looted... and compensation for crimes, coups, and aggressions will be taken from you until the last rial." According to Fars News Agency, he added: "This nation will raise such a storm against the oppressors and tyrants that it will not settle until the liberation of Quds and the collapse of the criminal regime of America." Mr. Naghdi further questioned why America "did not dare to do such a thing in these thirty-some years when Iran was not open to dialogue and interaction with America?" He added: "America's performance has sent the file of optimism towards negotiations with America to the trash bin of history forever, and those who were hopeful for economic improvement through negotiations with America, if they do not wake up with these events, will also join it." Naghdi's statements come as some principlist figures and media have criticized Hassan Rouhani's government for its "optimism" towards America following reports about the Supreme Court's ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, April 20, that two billion dollars of Iran's frozen assets should be paid to the families of American victims of the 1983 bombings at the U.S. Marine Corps headquarters in Beirut and other attacks "related" to the Islamic Republic. Other cases related to the 1996 bombing in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, which left 19 dead, and other attacks carried out by militia groups "linked to Tehran" have also been raised. Meanwhile, Fars News reported on Sunday that besides this two billion dollars, "more than 16 billion dollars" in compensation claims against the Islamic Republic in various cases in America are still ongoing. This news agency criticized the policies of Hassan Rouhani's government, stating that "post-JCPOA diplomacy has given the courage to American officials to lavish two billion dollars of public funds." In response to the principlist criticisms, several senior government officials, including Es'hagh Jahangiri, the first vice president, have described the actions of Ahmadinejad's government officials in purchasing U.S. government bonds and not removing these assets after sanctions as "carelessness," "lack of foresight," and a precursor to the seizure of assets. These government officials have stated that the ruling of the lower court regarding the seizure of Iran's assets "has been raised in U.S. courts for 10 years and has no relation to the JCPOA." However, Mohammad Nabi Habibi, the secretary-general of the Islamic Coalition Party, criticized those who remain "optimistic" about America regarding the seizure of Iran's assets. He added: "We expected the President to take a firm stance against America's breach of promise based on the words of the Central Bank Governor during his trip to Semnan. But surprisingly, he took the sharp edge of his attack against the benevolent critics and accused them of not observing religious zeal and national pride." Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, stated on Tuesday, April 20, that some critics of the Vienna nuclear agreement claim that Iranian diplomats "have not been victorious," but rather America and Israel "have been victorious in this arena." He addressed these critics, saying, "Where did your religious zeal and national pride go? Why do you not want to bow before the greatness of the Iranian nation that has achieved a great historical success?" Despite the endorsement of the Vienna nuclear agreement by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he and his close associates continue to criticize this agreement. In contrast, Mostafa Tajzadeh, the political deputy of the Ministry of Interior during Mohammad Khatami's presidency, criticized Khamenei and his associates in an open letter from prison, stating that the leader of the Islamic Republic is expected to "take the side of the majority of the nation." In this context, Iran's seized assets were used solely for "purchasing U.S. bonds."