Zarif and Araghchi Attempt to Assure Public That We Have Prevented Loss

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister and senior nuclear negotiator, stated that the ratification of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the 5+1 group by the Islamic Consultative Assembly is not in the country's interest. He warned that if approved by the parliament, Iran's voluntary actions in the agreement would become law and must be implemented. According to the newspaper Etemad, Araghchi said on Saturday during a meeting with media managers at state television that the nuclear program, based on economic criteria, is a 'great loss.' He added that these costs have been incurred for the sake of dignity, independence, and progress, to avoid being subjected to the bullying of others. Mehran Mostafavi, a nuclear and political expert in Paris, commented that he has repeatedly stated that the Islamic Republic's nuclear policy is an economic disaster, and as Araghchi mentioned, it represents a significant loss. However, Mostafavi noted that Araghchi has not accounted for the costs imposed on Iran and its people due to economic sanctions, only considering the direct costs of nuclear policies. Araghchi, along with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Ali Akbar Salehi, are trying to convey to the public that they have prevented losses, acknowledging that these policies have been very costly. Alireza Namvar-Haghighi, a history professor at the University of Toronto, remarked that Araghchi's main point is that Iran has been recognized as a regional player by major powers due to the acceptance of its nuclear program by the Security Council, demonstrating that the will of major powers regarding enrichment, which had been imposed on Iran through resolutions, could not be enforced, and Iran has managed to resist and reverse that resolution. Regarding the acceptance of inspections by the IAEA, Araghchi stated that it has been coordinated with all relevant bodies such as the Ministry of Intelligence, the Ministry of Defense, and the Atomic Energy Organization. He noted that during the previous administration, IAEA inspectors were present in Iran's facilities approximately four to five days a week, and currently, there are no issues with inspections. Mostafavi confirmed that previously inspections were conducted, and Iran accepted the presence of 250 IAEA representatives in the country, agreeing to allow visits to military sites like Parchin under a separate agreement with the agency. However, he mentioned that these visits are managed, and the specifics of the inspections are unclear. He also noted that interviews with Iranian experts and scientists at nuclear centers were part of the agreement, which Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei considers red lines for the Islamic Republic, yet they have been accepted in practice, and Araghchi aims to prepare the ground further. On the other hand, Namvar-Haghighi believes that the commitments Iran has accepted have been checked and coordinated with various institutions, although there may be some rhetoric from the Revolutionary Guards. He expressed skepticism that the Foreign Ministry would accept these inspections without coordination. Araghchi's remarks during the meeting with the state television news council were initially published by the agency, but hours later, it stated that the publication was due to a misinterpretation and deemed it unreliable. Araghchi expressed surprise at the publication of his statements, calling it unprofessional, unethical, and contrary to national interests and security, demanding accountability from the officials of the state television organization. Mostafavi commented that the discussions by Araghchi and others are aimed at convincing Iranian media managers that their actions were intended to prevent losses. However, he found it interesting that Araghchi claimed that the publication of these statements is against national security, questioning how an economic issue could be considered a matter of national security, indicating that they equate national security with regime security and are intent on keeping the Iranian people unaware of the broader dimensions of this economic disaster.