PHOTO: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi
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Iran’s Rouhani Government has repeated that no Parliamentary approval is needed of the July 14 nuclear deal with the 5+1 Powers.
Speaking on State TV on Monday night, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said, “When a case is deferred to the Supreme National Security Council, it moves out of the Majlis’ capacity. The nuclear issue has been reviewed by the Council for the past 12 years.”
The Minister said that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was not a treaty but “a set of voluntary actions”.
Hardline critics of the agreement — including MPs, clerics, and sections of the Iranian media — have insisted on a vote in the Majlis.
But Araqchi responded, “Is it appropriate that the Majlis turns a set of voluntary actions into statuary law and makes them binding for Government?”
Earlier in the day, Araqchi fielded questions from Parliament’s National Security Commission. He said that he expected the verification of Iran’s compliance with the deal — the condition for the lifting of US and European Union sanctions — to begin with Tehran’s submission of information to the International Atomic Energy Agency in November.
The Minister repeated that there is no mandatory inspection of non-nuclear military sites in the Iran-IAEA “road map”, although he did not make clear if Tehran would accept any IAEA requests for access to facilities.
Araqchi said Iran planned to have enriched uranium for a civilian program of “five to six” nuclear reactors by the end of the 15-year deal. He noted that, under the JCPOA, Iran’s manufacture of advanced centrifuges will be restricted for eight years.
Araqchi’s interview is part of the Government campaign to sell the deal. President Rouhani promoted the agreement in a tour of Iranian cities last week, and Zarif and Araqchi made statements in a Tehran conference on Sunday.
The campaign received a notable boost on Saturday with the support of the head of the military, General Hassan Firouzabadi.
See Iran Daily, August 10: FM Zarif — Nuclear Deal is “Balanced” and Satisfies All
Iran Daily, August 9: Head of Military Backs Nuclear Deal
Economy Minister Faces Vote of Confidence and Dismissal by Parliament
Economy Minister Ali Tayyebnia is facing possible dismissal by Parliament after he was impeached on Sunday.
Tayyebnia was impeached after, summoned to the Majlis, he failed to convince MPs in his answers to their questions. More than 100 of the legislators gave him a “third yellow card”, which triggers a vote of confidence.
Hardline MPs have impeached a number of Ministers in the Rouhani Government — and successful forced the removal of some of them — in their challenges to the President over political, economic, and social issues.
