Negotiator Criticizes MP's Statement: A 'Serious Threat' to National Security

A member of Iran's nuclear negotiation team has described the remarks of Mahmoud Nabavian, a representative from Tehran in the parliament, regarding Iran's 'agreement' to address its missile activities in negotiations with the 1+5 group as 'incorrect' and a 'serious' threat to the country's national security. According to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), this member of the nuclear negotiation team, speaking anonymously on Saturday, December 22, rejected Nabavian's comments about the negotiation team's agreement to discuss missile issues in the nuclear talks as 'incorrect.' He added, 'Such statements are considered serious threats to the national security of the country.' Mahmoud Nabavian, a Tehran representative and close associate of Mohammad Taqi Misbah Yazdi, recently criticized the performance of Iran's nuclear negotiation team in an interview with the Rajanews website, stating: 'The Supreme Leader has emphasized that addressing Iran's missile issue is foolish. If we do not have missiles, they will not hesitate to take military action against us, and it is these missiles that keep the enemy in check.' He also claimed, without specifying the time or place, that Wendy Sherman, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, in response to the Supreme Leader's remarks, stated that Mohammad Javad Zarif and Abbas Araghchi 'have signed' to address Iran's missile activities in the negotiations. This claim comes despite the fact that no news regarding Sherman's statements has been published in the media. In this context, Gholamali Jafarzadeh, a representative from Rasht, reported on Saturday, December 8, citing Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister, that there are 'six contentious issues' between Iran and the 1+5 group regarding the timing and manner of lifting sanctions, and that Iran has 'not allowed' the discussion of human rights and its missile program in recent nuclear negotiations. Last month, during the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the 1+5 countries, media outlets affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards published multiple reports on Iran's missile capabilities for 'attacking Israel' as well as missiles provided by the Islamic Republic to armed groups in Palestine and Lebanon. In this context, Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Minister of Intelligence and Strategic Affairs, stated on Thursday, November 29, that any comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran must involve the elimination of all uranium enrichment and plutonium production capabilities in Iran, as well as the cessation of missile cooperation between Iran and North Korea. In his interview with Rajanews, Nabavian mentioned the operation of 8,000 out of 15,000 centrifuges in Natanz, the shutdown of three-quarters of the Fordow nuclear facility, and the 'dismantling' of the Arak heavy water reactor as other 'commitments' of Iran in the nuclear negotiations. Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, stated on Tuesday, December 18, that based on an 'unwritten' agreement and to 'avoid complicating the negotiation process,' Iran does not intend to activate new centrifuges or inject active UF6 gas into the IR8 centrifuge until the negotiations with the 1+5 countries continue. Nabavian has previously expressed severe criticisms of the performance of Iran's nuclear negotiation team. He also stated on Wednesday, February 23, 2014, that several ministers from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration were 'crying over the pressure of sanctions' in closed parliamentary sessions. Reports indicate that Iran's Supreme National Security Council has filed a lawsuit against him due to these remarks. Since the beginning of the nuclear negotiations under President Rouhani, hardliners, especially the radical branch of the Steadfast Front, have expressed severe criticisms of the nuclear negotiation team's performance, including participants in the 'Red Line' conference on July 23, who attacked the Iranian nuclear negotiation team with harsh rhetoric. A similar conference titled 'We Are Worried' was held on May 3, with the participation of several representatives from the Steadfast Front. In this context, the next round of nuclear negotiations will be held 'at the deputy level' of foreign ministers, according to Araghchi, and is scheduled for December 26. Wendy Sherman will meet with Iranian officials in Geneva.