Zakani: Zarif's Action Deserves Serious Consequences

A number of Iranian parliament members protested during an open session on Wednesday, October 8, shouting "Death to America" in response to Foreign Minister Zarif shaking hands with the President of the United States. Alireza Zakani, head of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Review Committee in Parliament, stated that this action "deserves serious consequences." Meanwhile, several parliament members expressed their objections to the Foreign Minister's action in their remarks. For instance, Bahram Birarvand, a representative from Borujerd, said that the Foreign Minister had made a "grave mistake" by shaking hands with the U.S. President. In reaction to Birarvand's comments, Mohammad Hassan Abutalebi, the Deputy Speaker and head of the open session, called for "maintaining decorum and also respecting the Foreign Minister as an official." He ordered the microphone of Mr. Birarvand to be cut off for a few minutes. After his microphone was restored, Birarvand asked Mr. Zarif to resign, stating, "At least have the courage of a rooster." Abutalebi responded to Birarvand's remarks by asserting that "Zarif's courage in defending the revolution and leadership and the blood of martyrs is no less than mine or yours." Hamid Rasai, a representative from Tehran, remarked that the claims of the meeting being "accidental" were dubious, suggesting that next year they would claim they accidentally embraced each other. He emphasized that while Zarif may have acted based on a decision that could be criticized, it does not justify using inappropriate language against those who have served the revolution, Imam, and leadership. Birarvand also sought to make a point at the beginning of the session but was denied permission by the session's president, leading him and several other representatives to chant "Death to America." According to Tasnim News Agency, following Rasai's remarks, besides several parliament members, some guests at the open session also chanted "Death to America" and "Allahu Akbar." Rasai warned, "Let it not be that an accidental document of humiliation for this nation is approved in this parliament." He questioned Zarif, asking how he did not accidentally divert his path to avoid shaking hands with someone whose hands are stained with the blood of Muslims and the Iranian people. "We will pursue this matter," he stated. Meanwhile, Ahmad Aryaie Nejad, a representative from Malayer, suggested that the emergency management office allocate some budget for political emergencies to avoid being caught in a political storm, flood, or earthquake. The handshake between the Islamic Republic's Foreign Minister and the U.S. President is described as an unprecedented event. Diplomatic relations between Iran and the U.S. have been severed since the 1979 revolution, and senior officials from both countries have not met in public until the recent round of nuclear negotiations. Alireza Zakani characterized this action as an "unforgivable mistake" and a clear example of deliberate or ignorant groundwork for the enemy's political infiltration in the post-JCPOA era. He emphasized that the claim of this meeting being accidental is "not acceptable in international norms and such actions are usually conducted with the coordination of behind-the-scenes political brokers." Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has repeatedly warned that the U.S. seeks to "infiltrate" Iran following the Vienna nuclear agreement. The parliament members' protests against the handshake come as Zakani announced that the committee's report on the Vienna nuclear agreement will be presented in the open session next Sunday. Additionally, according to ISNA, a number of "Basij male and female students" have gathered in front of the Iranian parliament in protest against the Vienna nuclear agreement and Zarif's handshake with the U.S. President. The newspaper Etemad reported that Javad Karimi Qodosi, a representative from Mashhad, announced on Tuesday that he has drafted two important proposals to reject the JCPOA and impeach the Foreign Minister, stating that he will soon begin collecting signatures for them.