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Iran’s Supreme Leader Orders Lawmakers to Vote on Nuclear Deal Iran’s Supreme Leader Orders Parliament to Vote on Nuclear Deal
(about 2 hours later)
TEHRAN — Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered Parliament to vote on an agreement to curb the country’s nuclear program, the state news media reported on Thursday, announcing his decision a day after President Obama secured enough votes to ensure approval of the deal in the United States. TEHRAN — A day after President Obama secured enough votes to ensure approval of the Iranian nuclear deal in the United States Congress, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Thursday ordered Parliament to vote on the agreement and threatened to cancel the pact entirely if the West merely suspended, rather than canceled, economic sanctions, state news media reported.
Although Parliament is expected to approve the agreement, the announcement nonetheless represents a blow for President Hassan Rouhani and his team of nuclear negotiators. They had long insisted that such a vote was not constitutionally required because the agreement between Iran and the world powers was not an international treaty. ....
Mr. Rouhani and the negotiating team have argued that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council should review the agreement, which would lift sanctions against Iran in exchange for a series of restrictions on the country’s nuclear program. While the Iranian Parliament is expected to approve the agreement, the announcement nonetheless represented a setback for President Hassan Rouhani and his team of nuclear negotiators, who have long held that the deal should be ratified by the Supreme National Security Council, which Mr. Rouhani heads. Their fear is that a debate in Parliament will provide a platform for strident, archconservative opponents of the pact.
Ayatollah Khamenei told an audience of Shiite Muslim clerics that Parliament “should not be bypassed” in the review of the nuclear deal. He was careful not to show any support or opposition to the agreement, saying it was up to the “representatives of the nation” to decide. Addressing a gathering of Shiite clerics, Ayatollah Khamenei said that Parliament “should not be bypassed” in the review of the nuclear deal, which would lift sanctions against Iran in exchange for a series of restrictions on the country’s nuclear program. As he has been all along, the supreme leader was careful not to tip his hand, saying it was up to the “representatives of the nation” to decide whether to accept it.
He is widely seen as the architect behind the nuclear agreement, and analysts expect that lawmakers will support the deal, which has the public backing of Ali Larijani, the influential head of Parliament. A small but vocal faction is expected to put up a fight, but ultimately, the members of Parliament are expected to look to Ayatollah Khamenei for guidance. Nevertheless, Ayatollah Khamenei is widely seen as the architect behind the nuclear agreement, and analysts expect that lawmakers will support the deal, which has the public backing of Ali Larijani, the influential head of Parliament.
Sounding a more cautionary note, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed doubt about whether the world powers would lift all of the sanctions and warned that Iran would cancel the deal if any of them remained in place.Sounding a more cautionary note, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed doubt about whether the world powers would lift all of the sanctions and warned that Iran would cancel the deal if any of them remained in place.
“If we compromised on the certain issues in the negotiations and conceded certain things, it was mainly to have the sanctions lifted,” he said. “If the sanctions are not to be lifted, there will not be a trade-off. Therefore, this issue has to be clarified.” “If we compromised on certain issues in the negotiations and conceded certain things, it was mainly to have the sanctions lifted,” he said. “If the sanctions are not to be lifted, there will not be a trade-off. Therefore, this issue has to be clarified.”
Ayatollah Khamenei blamed what he called “badly speaking American officials, who are making statements, saying the structure of the sanctions must remain intact.”Ayatollah Khamenei blamed what he called “badly speaking American officials, who are making statements, saying the structure of the sanctions must remain intact.”
That was a reference to United States officials backing the deal, who have said that Iran’s nuclear program would be severely controlled and that sanctions would be suspended during the deal, not lifted. Ayatollah Khamenei urged Mr. Rouhani’s administration to counter such statements. He seemed to be referring to Obama administration officials, who in defending the deal have emphasized that sanctions could be reimposed at any time if Iran is caught trying to conduct research or development on a nuclear weapon.
“Do not say that Americans are making these remarks to content their domestic rivals,” he said. “Of course, I believe that the domestic struggle in the U.S. is real.” Ayatollah Khamenei urged Mr. Rouhani’s administration to counter such statements. “Do not say that Americans are making these remarks to reassure their domestic rivals,” he said. “Of course, I believe that the domestic struggle in the U.S. is real.”
“But, what is officially stated deserves to get a response,” he said. “If it is not answered, then the statements of the other party become consolidated.”“But, what is officially stated deserves to get a response,” he said. “If it is not answered, then the statements of the other party become consolidated.”