Setting aside his criticism of the US, Iran’s Supreme Leader has called on MPs to support the nuclear talks with the 5+1 Powers.
Blunting criticism from some legislators of the Iranian negotiators, Ayatollah Khamenei told the MPs that the Iranian delegation — now working out a final draft of the comprehensive agreement with the 5+1 — were carrying out his instructions:
Our stance on nuclear issue is what we stated publicly.The exact same points are being said to officials; these are our basic stance.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) May 27, 2015
He continued, “Our brothers are working hard. They’re really sweating and working on all these fields.They must insist on positions.”
#Iran supreme leader backs nuclear negotiating team by calling them "our brothers" & saying that they are really doing their best.
— Abas Aslani (@abasinfo) May 27, 2015
Without admitting any weakness, Khamenei linked the call for support to Iran’s economic difficulties, admitting, “We are facing a lack of resources and sanctions had an impact on this.”
In addition to pursuit of the talks, “the solution is to economize and observe financial discipline”, the Supreme Leader said.
He concluded, “Resolving the nuclear issue and other issues is strengthening ourselves internally.”
Iran and the 5+1 (US, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia) resumed the drafting of the final text on Tuesday in Vienna. One of the senior Iranian negotiators, Hamid Baeidinejad, said experts had “useful discussions”.
The two sides are seeking a resolution by a June 30 deadline.
Khamenei’s remarks came a day after the office of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of “spreading lies”.
Bolstering the argument that he is defending Iran’s position against unlimited inspections of military sites and interviews of nuclear scientists, Zarif has said that Ahmadinejad permitted both the inspections and questioning by the International Atomic Energy Agency during his administration.
The Foreign Ministry said last night that the IAEA’s official reports prove the claims of Ahmadinejad’s office are false. It said the accusation that Zarif lies could be subject to legal action.
