Sadegh Larijani: The Nuclear Agreement is the Result of the Country's Capabilities

Sadegh Amoli Larijani, the head of Iran's judiciary, stated that "everyone knows the atmosphere of the nuclear negotiations was very heavy and fragile," adding that "in a fair assessment, it should be said that what has been achieved is the result of the country's capabilities and the negotiating team's efforts." On Sunday, July 25, he criticized those who say "this agreement has brought no benefits to Iran," stating that such remarks are "denial of reality and a pessimistic view of it." According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Larijani justified his support for the nuclear agreement by saying that "the West has never accepted Iran's nuclear activities and the operation of centrifuges by the Islamic Republic and has stood against this legitimate right of Iran in a completely unjust manner, but now this issue has been accepted." Sadegh Amoli Larijani also thanked President Hassan Rouhani, members of the nuclear negotiating team, and "especially" Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Thus, the nuclear agreement between the Islamic Republic and six world powers currently enjoys not only the firm support of the Iranian president but also the implicit support of the leaders of both the legislative and judicial branches of the Islamic Republic. The Supreme Leader had stated in his Eid al-Fitr speech that the world powers "were forced to tolerate the operation of several thousand centrifuges, the continuation of this industry in the country, and the continuation of nuclear research and development." Meanwhile, the Supreme Leader, without mentioning the term "agreement" in his speech, spoke of the necessity of its approval within Iran. The head of the judiciary also stated that "the legal process for the approval and endorsement of this agreement in the country must be followed, and in this legal path, the achieved agreement must certainly be examined with care, patience, and dignity in the Supreme National Security Council and the Parliament, and in a legal process, we must also think about the concerns regarding the limitations imposed and how to mitigate potential damages." Larijani identified "one of the vulnerable points" in this agreement as "the existence of some security loopholes" in it and emphasized: "The agreement reached should not provide a pathway for facilitating access to security and military points, and negligence in resolving this issue is an unforgivable sin."