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| Iran’s Supreme Leader Noncommital on Nuclear Agreement | Iran’s Supreme Leader Noncommital on Nuclear Agreement |
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| TEHRAN — Iran’s supreme leader on Thursday invited domestic critics of a nuclear agreement reached last week to speak out, emphasizing that it was too early for him to make conclusions about the framework because crucial details were still to be worked out. | TEHRAN — Iran’s supreme leader on Thursday invited domestic critics of a nuclear agreement reached last week to speak out, emphasizing that it was too early for him to make conclusions about the framework because crucial details were still to be worked out. |
| The leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also expressed strong and rare criticism toward Iran’s regional competitor, Saudi Arabia, calling the new leaders in Riyadh “inexperienced youths” who were highlighting the country’s “barbarous features.” | The leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also expressed strong and rare criticism toward Iran’s regional competitor, Saudi Arabia, calling the new leaders in Riyadh “inexperienced youths” who were highlighting the country’s “barbarous features.” |
| In public remarks that were bound to escalate tensions with Saudi Arabia, Mr. Khamenei referred to Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen as an invasion and “a genocide,” which he called a “bad mistake” and a crime akin “to those committed by the Zionists in Gaza.” | In public remarks that were bound to escalate tensions with Saudi Arabia, Mr. Khamenei referred to Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen as an invasion and “a genocide,” which he called a “bad mistake” and a crime akin “to those committed by the Zionists in Gaza.” |
| Ayatollah Khamenei was speaking about the nuclear talks for the first time since a framework agreement was struck in Lausanne, Switzerland, last week. He said he saw no need to make a clear pronouncement on the agreements, because no signed deal was publicly available. | |
| “There was no need to take a position,” he said. “The officials are saying that nothing has been done yet and nothing is obligatory. I neither agree nor disagree.” | “There was no need to take a position,” he said. “The officials are saying that nothing has been done yet and nothing is obligatory. I neither agree nor disagree.” |
| Both Mr. Khamenei and the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, who spoke at a different event on Thursday, commented on the lifting of sanctions, a central Iranian demand during negotiations. | |
| Still, the two men appeared to diverge on when the sanctions should be canceled. Mr. Khamenei said he had asked for them to be completely lifted on the day an agreement is reached, while Mr. Rouhani said it should be the day a deal is put in place — potentially months after its signature. | |
| “The sanctions should be lifted all together on the same day of the agreement, not six months or one year later,” Mr. Khamenei said. “If lifting of sanctions is supposed to be connected to a process, then why do we negotiate?” | “The sanctions should be lifted all together on the same day of the agreement, not six months or one year later,” Mr. Khamenei said. “If lifting of sanctions is supposed to be connected to a process, then why do we negotiate?” |
| The president took a different approach. “We will not sign any agreement, unless all economic sanctions are totally lifted on the first day of the implementation of the deal,” Mr. Rouhani said at a ceremony marking Iran’s nuclear technology day, which celebrates the country’s nuclear achievements. | |
| The Iranian leader did not criticize those details of the framework that had already been agreed to, even though some of them, if put in place, would represent big compromises from all parties, including Iran. | |
| Ayatollah Khamenei did draw a clear red line, however, over the inspection of military sites, saying such sites would under no circumstances be opened up to foreigners. | |
| He repeated that while he was not optimistic about negotiating with world powers — especially with the United States — he did support the talks and Iran’s diplomatic team. | He repeated that while he was not optimistic about negotiating with world powers — especially with the United States — he did support the talks and Iran’s diplomatic team. |
| “I have agreed to this particular instance of negotiations, and I support the negotiators,” Ayatollah Khamenei said, according to his official website, Khamenei.ir. | |
| “I trust our negotiators, but I’m really worried as the other side is into lying and breaching promises, an example was the White House fact sheet,” he said. “This came out a few hours after the negotiations and most of it was against the agreement and was wrong. They are always trying to deceive and break promises.” | “I trust our negotiators, but I’m really worried as the other side is into lying and breaching promises, an example was the White House fact sheet,” he said. “This came out a few hours after the negotiations and most of it was against the agreement and was wrong. They are always trying to deceive and break promises.” |
| In recent days, almost all major figures in the Iranian establishment have come out in support of the framework agreement, albeit while adding the usual caveat that Iran’s rights must be guaranteed. Most, including Friday Prayer leaders and military commanders, have said they support the talks, some have even congratulated Ayatollah Khamenei on the outcome of the negotiations. | |
| Speaking to an audience of religious chanters in his Tehran office, the ayatollah said that the only deal that would be worthy of congratulations would be one that ensured the “rights” and “dignity” of Iran. | Speaking to an audience of religious chanters in his Tehran office, the ayatollah said that the only deal that would be worthy of congratulations would be one that ensured the “rights” and “dignity” of Iran. |
| “Everything is in the details; it is possible that the untrustworthy side wants to restrict our country in the details,” he said. “Your current congratulations to me and others are meaningless,” he added, stressing that the success of the talks was not guaranteed. | “Everything is in the details; it is possible that the untrustworthy side wants to restrict our country in the details,” he said. “Your current congratulations to me and others are meaningless,” he added, stressing that the success of the talks was not guaranteed. |
| “Whatever has been done so far does not ensure either the principle — or content — or that the talks will reach the end,” he said. | “Whatever has been done so far does not ensure either the principle — or content — or that the talks will reach the end,” he said. |
| Because of the involvement of the United States, Ayatollah Khamenei said he had “serious concerns” about the talks. He said he had not been involved in the details of the negotiations, but advised the government to allow critics of the deal to speak their minds, “as it will help unity” in the country. | Because of the involvement of the United States, Ayatollah Khamenei said he had “serious concerns” about the talks. He said he had not been involved in the details of the negotiations, but advised the government to allow critics of the deal to speak their minds, “as it will help unity” in the country. |
| It must be clear, the ayatollah said, that the negotiations were not going beyond the nuclear field. “But,” he continued, “if the other side refrains from its normal bad actions, this will become an experience that we can continue on other issues. If we see that once again they repeat their bad actions, it will only strengthen our experience of not trusting America.” | It must be clear, the ayatollah said, that the negotiations were not going beyond the nuclear field. “But,” he continued, “if the other side refrains from its normal bad actions, this will become an experience that we can continue on other issues. If we see that once again they repeat their bad actions, it will only strengthen our experience of not trusting America.” |
| The Iranian leader said that he was not worried about the talks failing and leading to a regional race toward enrichment. In a veiled address to Saudi Arabia, he challenged that country to try and start a nuclear program without the help of foreigners. | The Iranian leader said that he was not worried about the talks failing and leading to a regional race toward enrichment. In a veiled address to Saudi Arabia, he challenged that country to try and start a nuclear program without the help of foreigners. |
| “An underdeveloped country said that ‘If Iran has enrichment, we want it too,’” the supreme leader commented. “Well, do it if you can. Nuclear technology is our domestic capability.” | |
| Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been rising, most recently over Yemen, where Iran has long supported Houthi rebels and where Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition against the group and has been carrying out airstrikes. | Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been rising, most recently over Yemen, where Iran has long supported Houthi rebels and where Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition against the group and has been carrying out airstrikes. |
| Tensions have also flared over accusations that Saudi airport officials sexual assaulted two teenage Iranian boys. On Thursday, an Iranian plane filled with pilgrims heading to the holy city of Mecca was denied permission to land in the Saudi city of Jidda. | Tensions have also flared over accusations that Saudi airport officials sexual assaulted two teenage Iranian boys. On Thursday, an Iranian plane filled with pilgrims heading to the holy city of Mecca was denied permission to land in the Saudi city of Jidda. |