LATEST: Rouhani — Support Our Nuclear Negotiators

The Tehran Friday Prayer offered advice to Iranians on how to cope with ongoing US-led sanctions, given the failure to reach a comprehensive agreement in nuclear talks with the 5+1 Powers.

Ayatollah Ali Jannati, the head of the Guardian Council, said, “So what if you can have only one meal a day, if the situation gets worse because of sanctions?”

Iran has received a fraction of relief from the tough US and European measures under interim arrangements agreed in November 2013. About $12 billion of its assets have been or will be unfrozen by July 1, the deadline to reach a comprehensive settlement.

However, the vast majority of sanctions, which have restricted Iran’s oil exports by more than 40% and hindered its banking and manufacturing sectors, remain in place. Their effect has been reinforced in recent months by the fall of more than 60% in oil prices, limiting Iran’s revenues and threatening the Government budget, provision of services, and subsidies on items such as bread.

Jannati said that the Supreme Leader’s “Resistance Economy” would ensure the Islamic Republic’s survival but that Iranians should be happy to make sacrifices:

Experience has shown that Americans have worked in our favor….The resistance economy as a solution to economic problems….

It may come when we eat two meals a day. Does it matter if the situation worsens and we eat only one meal a day?

The cleric said, “Starvation is not worse than losing a loved one.”

He continued that he was not saying people should be hungry; however, “we endure hardships in the path of resistance”.

On another front, Jannati effectively challenged the Rouhani Government’s recent “engagement” of Saudi Arabia, which included condolences from the President over King Abdullah’s death and a visit to Riyadh by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for a funeral service.

Jannati preferred black celebration of the events, “congratulating” Muslims over Abdullah’s death.


Rouhani: Support Our Nuclear Negotiators

Trying to hold off hardline critics, President Rouhani has called for renewed support of Iran’s nuclear negotiators.

Rouhani told a science festival on Saturday, “Today, we have very experienced diplomats who negotiate with the world’s six powerful countries about legal, political and technical issues. This is a source of pride for our country.”

Iran’s talks with the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia) have continued this month without any sign of advance towards a comprehensive agreement by July 1.

Rouhani challenged critics of the negotiators, indicating it is politically-motivated:

Criticism is not booing or accusing, but instead it means to show a better and more precise way which would lead us to our destination faster.

Some people damage national interests in the name of a certain political party or faction or in the name of criticism.

Regime Gives Mixed Signals on Support of Hezbollah vs. Israel

Iranian commanders and clerics continued on Friday to pledge support to the Lebanese organization in its confrontation with Israel; however, they backed away from an immediate armed conflict.

Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said Hezbollah’s response, including a missile attack that killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded seven on Wednesday, should be considered Iran’s response: “The power of the resistance emanates from the path of the Islamic Revolution.”

Jafari said the attack was the “minimum” response to Israel’s airstrike inside Syria on January 18 that killed Hezbollah and Iranian commanders and personnel.

However, Jafari’s deputy, General Hossein Salami, appeared to pull back from any military confrontatio, saying the Israeli regime is “too insignificant” to be considered a threat.

Salami said the Islamic Republic is preparing to defend itself against world powers but Israel is not challenging enough to merit specific preparations.

Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said in the Tehran Friday Prayer that Hezbollah’s missile attack on Wednesday was the “perfect response” to Israel. He added, “This is the first of the [responses to] the Zionists and they should wait [for more].”