Rouhani's First Vice President Calls John Bolton a 'Paid Agent' of the Mojahedin-e Khalq

Continuing the severe attacks by Iranian officials on the appointment of John Bolton as the National Security Advisor at the White House, Iran's First Vice President, Eshaq Jahangiri, referred to Mr. Bolton as a 'paid agent' of the Mojahedin-e Khalq organization and stated that with such appointments, 'nothing will happen in Iran.' According to ISNA news agency, on Tuesday, April 7, Jahangiri said: 'It is not the case that a group whose main honor is receiving salaries from the Mojahedin-e Khalq comes to power and... starts threats against the Iranian nation and thinks that the Iranian people will be intimidated by these threats or that anything will happen in Iran.' He emphasized that with these 'words and threats,' nothing will happen to the Iranian people. Iranian officials refer to the Mojahedin-e Khalq organization as 'hypocrites' and a 'terrorist group.' This organization has been removed from the list of 'terrorist groups' by the U.S. and European countries. Meanwhile, there is no documented report of payments made by the Mojahedin-e Khalq to Mr. Bolton, and he has only participated in the organization's meetings. In response to the appointment of the new U.S. National Security Advisor, Alireza Jafarzadeh, the spokesperson for the Mojahedin-e Khalq, wrote on Twitter: 'John Bolton has the right vision and a comprehensive understanding of the region, especially the threat of the Iranian regime and the need for the liberation of Iran.' On the same day, Jahangiri also accused the Trump administration officials of trying to make investment in Iran 'unsafe' with their 'atmospheric manipulations' and 'preventing regional governments from getting closer to each other.' Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, also referred to Bolton's appointment as a source of 'shame' for America. On the same day, Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, spokesperson for the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Parliament, stated that the ultimate goal of the recent appointments in the U.S. government is 'the overthrow of the Islamic Republic.' A day earlier, Aladdin Boroujerdi, head of this commission, said that in response to Bolton's new appointment in the U.S., relations with China and Russia should be strengthened. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, appointed John Bolton as his National Security Advisor on April 2, following the dismissal of General Herbert McMaster. This appointment has faced widespread reactions from both opponents and supporters of Bolton. Mr. Bolton is one of the American politicians who still considers the invasion of Iraq a correct decision, while Donald Trump previously called the Iraq invasion 'foolish.' The new U.S. National Security Advisor is also an advocate for 'preventive' attacks on Iran and North Korea and is a staunch supporter of the overthrow of the Islamic Republic. He has previously spoken at several Mojahedin-e Khalq gatherings in Paris. Eight months ago, at a Mojahedin-e Khalq gathering, he stated that the Trump administration should set its goal to immediately change the regime of the Islamic Republic and consider the Mojahedin as an 'effective' alternative. He said that the Iranian revolution should not see its fortieth anniversary. Meanwhile, Shaul Mofaz, former Israeli Defense Minister, stated at a meeting organized by Yedioth Ahronoth that John Bolton was trying to convince Israel to attack Iran during George Bush's presidency. Reuters quoted some experts and analysts describing Bolton's appointment as 'another nail in the coffin of the JCPOA.' Meanwhile, several Iranian parliament members, including Jalal Mirzaei and Jalil Rahimi, stated on Sunday that the aim of Bolton's appointment is a 'serious determination' by the U.S. President to exit the JCPOA or 'increase pressure on Iran to amend this agreement.' Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the Iran nuclear deal with six world powers, has stated that if the 'catastrophic flaws' of the JCPOA are not resolved, he will not extend the suspension of nuclear sanctions. The deadline announced by the U.S. President is set to expire on May 12, which corresponds to 22 Ordibehesht 97 in the Iranian calendar.