kb>PHOTO: Secretary of National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, “Extending sanctions will kick nuclear deal away”

Iran’s Friday Prayer leaders devoted their sermons to criticism of continuing American sanctions, days after the US House of Representatives approved a 10-year extension of the Iran Sanctions Act.

The House passed the measure 419-1 on Tuesday, and Republican leaders of the Senate have pledged to complete approval before adjournment next month.

In Hamedan, Ayatollah Ghiyas al Din Teh Mohammadi said the US is “kicking” the July 2015 nuclear deal:

America has approved greater sanctions against Iran….Due to the approval of 200 representatives, America will not send Iran airplanes… America’s neglect of the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] shows all of our country’s parties and interests that we must be reliant on ourselves and not be hopeful about others.

The Secretary of the National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, set out the Iranian line on Wednesday: “If you extend the sanctions, this will mean kicking the JCPOA away, and we will confront it through implementing powerful technical packages.”

The Friday Prayer leaders, who operate with guidance from the Supreme Leader’s office, reinforced the message. Qom’s Ayatollah Mohammad Saeedi said, “The consensus of Republican and Democratic representatives to renew sanctions for 10 years is a demonstration of America’s hostility toward Iran.”

Karaj’s Ayatollah Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani implicitly responded to proclamations by President Rouhani of positive developments in the economy. He cautioned that government officials “must not warp public opinion. The JCPOA’s goal, which has not been fulfilled, was to eliminate all sanctions when the JCPOA was accepted.”

The Iran Sanctions Act, first passed in 1996, is not tied to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 Powers. However, its likely extension by the US Congress comes on top of American financial restrictions that have not been lifted despite January’s implementation of the agreement.

The US has blocked Iranian access to American financial markets. European banks and companies have also been hesitant to resume business with Tehran because of fear of American punishment.

(Hat tip to Iran Tracker for translations)