Khamenei
has not publicly approved or disapproved the deal, and Shariatmadari’s
editorial is the first serious indication that he is actually opposing the
JCPOA. Members of Iran’s negotiating team had said publicly that the supreme
leader were continually briefed on the progress of the talks and had sent
messages to the negotiating team regarding the issues under discussion. His
opposition to JCPOA, if Shariatmadari understands it correctly, would be a blow
to the deal.
Shariatmadari
said in the editorial, entitled ‘The Only Choice Facing Us.’ that many parts of
the deal threatens Iran’s independence, security and the “sacred system of the
Islamic Republic of Iran” and would be “disastrous” if Tehran implemented the
accord. (Kayhan, 15 August)
Iran’s
parliament (Majlis) or the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) will
consider the agreement in the coming days. Senior leaders in Iran are divided
on which institution needs to give its final approval or disapproval to the
deal, Majlis or SNSC. Khamenei’s ruling on this issue would determine which
body would examine the JCPOA.
The
hardliners like Shariatmadari prefer that Majlis disapproves the deal. Some
hardliners, like military chief Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, prefer the Majlis not even
consider the deal, fearing an approval by the body would make the
defense-related provisions in the agreement, limitations on ballistic missile
program and arms imports, binding for Iran.
For Farsi
readers, please click here to read Shaiatmadari’s editorial.
File
photo: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (AFP)
7 comments:
There is a nuanced difference between “not in any way satisfied with the nuclear deal" which is the English translation of Shariatmadar's characterization as written in the editorial, and "opposed" as it is characterized here.
Observers are looking towards whether JCPOA is formally undertaken by Majlis as a bill. My hunch is that such a bill would be undertaken after the U.S. Congress process, possibly even after the presidential veto and veto override processes. In such a way, were the veto override succeed, it would enable the Iranians to assign blame for failure on the U.S., which would be important for Iranian relations with Europe, Russia and China.
Shaiatmaderai uses the words "do not approve," in explaining Khamenei's view of the JCPOA. Not really that much room for a nuanced interpretations here. Shariatmadari might be wrong, but he says Khamenei is not going to approve the deal. Without his approval, there won't be a deal.
I doubt the Iranian leadership expects veto override to succeed. That's probably why prominent Iranian hardliners, like Shariatmadari, are lining up to announce their opposition to the deal, calling it a disaster for Iran and its independence and sovereignty. If they expected a veto override, they would have kept quite.
Shaiatmaderai personally characterizes Khamenei's public statements on JCPOA as being “fully aware of the insufficiency and the disastrous consequences of the agreement.”
Note that two weeks ago Kayhan Daily was issued an official warning for its anti-nuclear deal reporting, where it was.“alleged to have insulted Iranian officials as well as violating orders on coverage of the deal issued by the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
Further note that during Khamenei's more recent speech, he himself stated the nuclear deal “is still unsettled given the fact that neither Iran nor the U.S. legislatures have adopted it yet.”
Nader & Mark
There seems to be some misinterpretation of what Shariatmadari actually said in his editorial [here is the Farsi text : حضرت آقا از نارسایی و عواقب فاجعهآفرین توافق یاد شده اطلاع کامل دارند و با جرأت میتوان گفت که ایشان به هیچوجه از متن تهیه شده راضی نیستند[ What this says is that Khamenei is not satisfied with the text, which is a bit weaker than saying "he does not approve the deal" , You must have seen today's harsh protest to Kayhan's editorial when the senior advisor to Sepah's leadership is yelling at Shariatmadari to "....stop relating your own words to Rahbar .... : "از زبان رهبری حرف نزن " --- GA in LA
But I thought Kerry said there won't be a sanctions snap-back for Iran arms, missile violations. Why are they still concerned?
Khamenei's office has not denied Kayhan's assertion that he opposed the nuclear agreement, and Khamenei's Monday speech reinforces the spirit of Shariatmadari's editorial.
Thanks. In the same editorial, Shariatmadari also says that the leader does not approve the deal. As I have said in previous comments, Shariatmadari's take on what Khamenei believes might be wrong. I guess the best thing to do is wait for Khamenei make a definitive statement on JCPOA. Until now he's been vague on the most important agreement since the end of Iran-Iraq war, giving hardliners the space to air their opposition to JCPOA forcefully. But after veto override here, Khamenei needs to announce his decision and will not be able to continue the game of supporting the negotiating team but not approving the deal.
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