Reaction of Iran's Foreign Ministry After Cancellation of TV Interview on the Anniversary of the JCPOA

Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that following Abbas Araqchi's rejection of a 'condition' regarding his participation in a television program, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) also canceled the interview with this government official that was supposed to take place on the anniversary of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced on Saturday evening, January 26, 2016, that Iran had taken all initial steps to implement the JCPOA; thus, the frameworks for lifting Iran's nuclear sanctions were activated, and the JCPOA commenced. Abbas Araqchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister and a senior member of the nuclear negotiation team, was scheduled to appear on the program 'Text and Margin' on Channel Three on the night of January 25. However, hours later, he stated on his Instagram page that 'IRIB retracted its invitation.' In response to reporters in Iran, he asked them to inquire about the reasons from the Foreign Ministry spokesperson. The Public Relations Office of the Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the night of January 25, stating, 'This afternoon (Saturday, January 25), the program officials contacted Dr. Araqchi and conditioned his participation on a televised debate, which was undoubtedly contrary to the initial agreement. After his rejection of this unexpected condition, the relevant officials were not willing to conduct the interview based on the initial agreement and canceled the program.' Previously, Fars News Agency reported that Araqchi 'did not accept the presence of an individual who was supposed to be a critic in the program.' On the other hand, Shargh newspaper, published in Tehran, stated that the 'usual procedure' for these programs on Iranian state television is 'the host's Q&A about the agreement process and the status of the remaining issues.' According to this newspaper, IRIB's intention to conduct the program in a 'debate' format contradicts the principles of 'equality' between the parties. Shargh stated, 'Although it is expected that IRIB serves as a platform for informing the entire nation, evidence shows that the priorities of this media outlet are something else.' The Iranian state radio and television has not yet reacted to the Foreign Ministry's statement. Recently, IRIB has faced criticism for its coverage of the funeral of Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of the most important supporters of President Hassan Rouhani's government. Ali Asgari, the head of this organization, who is appointed by the Supreme Leader, has responded by saying he is trying to 'reform' the performance of the organization under his management. The nuclear agreement was reached after the rise of Hassan Rouhani's government, while the activities of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government had brought Iran into extensive sanctions. The JCPOA has now been in effect for a year. In the coming days, Donald Trump, the elected President of the United States and a staunch opponent of the nuclear agreement, will take over the leadership of that country. However, among the members nominated for Mr. Trump's cabinet, individuals like James Mattis - for the Department of Defense - have called for respect for Washington's commitments.