LATEST: Leading Analyst Zibakalam Chides Iran Over “Wanting to Destroy Israel”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps have taken another swipe at President Rouhani over the nuclear talks with the 5+1 Powers.
Just after the fourth round of discussions on a comprehensive agreement, the IRGC weekly magazine Sobh-e Sadegh has addressed “some who are thinking of compromise with the Arrogant System to improve the country’s situation”.
The magazine used the Supreme Leader’s recent appearance at the IRGC’s Air Force exhibition to bolster the line against any inclusion of ballistic missiles in the talks, warning that the West “will introduce other scientific and technical arenas that create power”:
Imam Khamenei said that the industrial production of these achievements must accelerate so this scientific achievement can transform to industrial production so development and progress can take place in industrial arenas. In the economic realm, we can even think about exporting these products.
The IRGC has not directly challenged Rouhani over the talks, which resume on June 16 in Vienna, because of the Supreme Leader’s continuing endorsement of negotiations. However, the Guards have maintained pressure on the President through a series of statements denouncing any compromise with the 5+1 Powers and proclaiming US weakness in the face of Iran’s might.
However, in marked contrast to the Guards’ warning, the head of Iran’s armed forces defended Rouhani.
General Hassan Firouzabadi said:
(The President) served during the revolutionary struggle and 35 years after the revolution in the sensitive security-defense trenches and policymaking. We must be proud and thankful of his presence and we must all concentrate our efforts in supporting an administration that can guide the country’s ship in such sensitive circumstances.
Rouhani reiterated in a speech to officials on Monday:
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s goal is civilian nuclear technology and (we) will pursue this goal and the people’s right; yet in the meantime, it wants to reach a common understanding in the process of the talks which serves the interests of all sides.
First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri hit back at Rouhani’s critics, saying that those who “feel happy” that the nuclear talks have reached a dead end are “mistaken”.
He defended the negotiating team as Iran’s “most capable diplomats” and said they would observe the “red lines” set by the Supreme Leader: “We will uphold (our) principles in the negotiations, defend the nuclear rights of the country.”
(h/t Iran Tracker for translation)
(PHOTO: IRGC Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari and President Rouhani)
Leading Analyst Zibakalam Chides Iran Over “Wanting to Destroy Israel”
Leading political analyst Sadegh Zibakalam has defied authorities by denouncing Iran’s hostile rhetoric towards Israel.
Addressing students at Islamic Azad University in Mashhad about pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program, Zibaklam said, “Iran has explicitly stated many times that it wants to destroy Israel. None of the other countries that have a nuclear program have stated that they want to destroy a country.”
Zibakalam, a professor at Tehran University, continued, “I don’t know who entrusted Iran with destroying Israel. Has the United Nations given this mission to Iran?”
He also sniped at critics of President Rouhani who say international pressure against Iran is because “the West does not want Iran to have technical and economic (growth)”, calling their line “an illusion”.
The analyst was interrogated in February after he wrote an open letter questioning whether the nuclear program had benefited Iran.
See Detaining Top Academic Zibakalam — For Questioning the Nuclear Program
In a June 2013 TV debate with a hardline MP who supported President Ahmadinejad, Zibakalam also declared, “No other country has said that they want to destroy Israel.”
Zibakalam chided his opponent, er and said, “If your hands were not in (Syrian President) Bashar al-Assad’s hands I would believe you that you’re free.”
Iran Willing to Discuss Compensation for 2011 Attack on British Embassy
Iran has put out another signal for rapprochement with Britain, saying it is prepared to discuss financial compensation for the 2011 attack on the British embassy in Tehran as part of an overall agreement to restore diplomatic relations.
Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi, in an interview with London’s The Guardian, said a resolution on renewed ties is possible by the end of the year while drawing a clear line on how far Iran would go:
An apology is not under consideration. There are many things that happened in the past for which we have not received an apology. But we are definitely working with the British government on what happened.
Tehran has edged toward acknowledgement of the 2011 attack, which it always maintained was a “spontaneous” raid by a crowd and not ordered by any State group. Last September, Iran and Britain agreed to the naming of non-resident envoys who would visit each other’s country.
Ravanchi said a visit to Tehran in late March by Sir Simon Gass, the Foreign Office’s Director-General had been positive: “There was agreement on some things, and not on others. It is good to be talking. We are moving in the right direction.”
Supreme Leader’s Representative on Dissent: “No One Can Do as They Damn Please”
The Supreme Leader’s deputy representative to the Revolutionary Guards, General Rasoul Sanaei Rad has set down a firm line on dissent: “No one can do as they damn please….(Those who try must) pay the cost and consequences or at least apologize so this matter prevents any enthusiasm for the continuation of sedition.”
The statement came as Iran Prosecutor General Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei announced the trial of 13 “seditionists” in relation to the protests after the disputed 2009 Presidential election.
Hardliners have also warned the Rouhani Government against any consideration of the release of 2009 Presidential candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, held under strict house arrest since February 2011.
