Majlis Approves Implementaion of Nuclear Deal

The Iranian parliament, Majlis, today gave its final approval to JCPOA, the nuclear deal with the world powers. With 161 in favor, 56 against and 13 abstentions, the Majlis passed a bill allowing the Iranian government to implement JCPOA.

46 MPs boycotted today's Majlis session and 11 MPs present did not vote. So the total number of MPs voting against, or not voting, or boycotting the session was 116, corresponding to 100 MPs voting against the general outline of JCPOA on Sunday.

Photo: Majlis MP Hamis Rasaie holding up a sign during the voting that reads, “This is a blatant violation of law. Majlis is not a rubber stamp.” (Tasnim)

Majlis Approves General Outline of JCPOA

Leader of Hardliners Threatens to Kill and Execute Zarif and Salehi 

 

Majlis, the Iranian Parliament, on Sunday approved the “general outline” of the nuclear deal with the world power, the JCPOA, by a vote of 139 to 100, with 12 abstention.

The details of JCPOA now will be considered in the next few days. The Majlis bill dealing with the specifics of JCPOA, entitled “Proportional Measures Toward Implementation,” contains sharp criticism of some key elements of the accord.

The Majlis could refer the bill, along with a long list of its concerns over the specific provisions in the agreement, to the country's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) for consideration and final approval. 

The Majlis today was also the scene of the most heated debate in years with some MPs behaving in questionable manner, at times bordering criminal. The leader of the Resistance Front, the parliament’s hardline faction, threatened the country’s foreign minister and chief of Atomic Energy Organization to death. This is how Kamaloldin Pir-Moazen, the MP from Ardabil, described the scene:

“Today the Resistance Front MPs and opponents of Rouhani administration did all they could do (to stop the nuclear agreement bill). They threatened (Atomic Energy chief) Salehi to death and threatened to have (Foreign Minister) Zarif executed.” Pir-Moazen added that Hojatoleslam Ruhollah Hosseinian, leader of the Resistance Front, told Salehi: “We will execute you, bury you inside Arak reactor, and pour cement over you.” (IRNA, 11 October)

To read the account by Iran’s official news agency IRNA, in Farsi, please click here.

Top photo: Atomic Energy Organization of Iran chief Salehi under attack by the hardliners in Majlis; Tehran, 11 October 2015 (IRNA)

Bottom photo: Hojatoleslam Ruhollah Hoseinian (in cleric dress) threatening to kill AEOI chief Salehi (at the podium) and pour cement over his body; Majlis, 11 October 2015 (ISNA)

Iran Parliament Begins Formal Consideration of JCPOA

After Receiving Highly Critical Report by Special Commission

Majlis, the Iranian parliament, on Sunday formally began consideration of the nuclear agreement with major world powers after the much-anticipated report by its Special Commission on JCPOA, entitled “Islamic Republic Government’s Reciprocal and Proportional Action in Implementing the Agreement,” was presented to the full house.

The 20-page report is heavily critical of many aspects of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including provisions related to defense, sanctions relief and the future of enrichment activities. The Majlis will now send the report probably back to the same commission to produce a bill for consideration. 

The bill coming out of the commission could propose a yes or no vote on JCPOA by the full Majlis. Or alternatively the Majlis could send today's report drafted by the special commission, with all its criticism of major components of the nuclear agreement, or a revised version of it, to the country's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) for final consideration, effectively passing the responsibility for approving the JCPOA at its present form to SNSC and Rouhani's government.

Photo credit: Members of Majlis during consideration of the highly critical report by the Special Commission on JCPOA; Tehran, 4 October 2015  (Mahmoud Rahimi/Mehr News Agency)

Amano in Tehran

IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano arrived in Tehran today and visited Majlis to attend a meeting of the special commission of the Iranian parliament that is reviewing the nuclear agreement, JCPOA.

Amano and the MPs were to discuss IAEA’s role in clarifying issues regarding possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program and the IAEA’s role in implementing the Additional Protocol and additional annexes which is part of JCPOA.

Amano also met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif to discuss the implementation of the JCPOA. He will return to Vienna later today.

Photo credit: IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano attends a meeting of Majlis special commission reviewing the nuclear agreement with P5+1; Tehran, 20 September 2015 (Mohsen Norouzifard/Khaneh Mellat (Majlis) News Agency)  

IAEA Chief to Attend Majlis Meeting on JCPOA

IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano will travel to Tehran on Sunday to hold talks with senior Iranians officials and will attend a meeting of the Iranian parliament’s special commission that is reviewing the nuclear agreement.

Alireza Zakani, the head of the review commission of the Majlis, had earlier invited Amano to meet with his commission to answer questions on JCPOA, the nuclear agreement. The Iranian foreign ministry announced today that Amano has accepted the invitation and will attend a Sunday afternoon meeting of the commission. (Fars News Agency, 19 September)

Zakani is a leading opponent of JCPOA in Iran, and as the head of the review commission has an influential role in the parliamentary process to approve or disapprove the nuclear agreement. Majlis can also choose not to vote on JCPOA and instead refer its recommendations, including opposition to parts of the agreement, to the country’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) for consideration.

UPDATE: Alireza Zakani, the head of Majlis commission reviewing JCPOA, today asked the director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to deliver two secret documents to the commission that AEOI has signed with IAEA. Zakani said the documents deal with the Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) of Iranian nuclear program and a long-term plan with IAEA on continued inspection of Iranian nuclear sites and facilities. (IRNA, 19 September)

IAEA does not make its agreements with member states public, and AEOI is not expected to release the secret documents.

Khamenei Restate Nuclear Redlines

Majlis Codifies Red Lines

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today restated his red lines for a nuclear deal with world powers after discord surfaced inside Iran between the government and lawmakers. Earlier in the day, the Majlis had passed a nuclear bill despite strong objections from Rouhani’s government. The bill passed Khamenei’s red lines into law, even after Rouhani’s vice president told lawmakers before the vote that the legislature could complicate negotiations just one week before the 30 June deadline for a final agreement.

Ayatollah Khamenei insisted that sanctions should be lifted as Iran begins the implementation of its commitments under a final agreement, and not after the IAEA certifies that Iran was indeed in compliance. Khamenei said he would not trust IAEA, because the agency is neither independent nor fair.

Khamenei also restated his objection for any inspections of military sites suspected of carrying out nuclear weapons-related work. IAEA has insisted that it needs to complete its inspection of possible military dimension to the country’s nuclear program, which would include an inspection of Parchin military base. Iran’s acceptance of IAEA’s Additional Protocol, which would facilitate such inspections, was part of the Lausanne framework agreement announced in April by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.

Khameni also added a new redline today. He said he would not accept 10 or 12-year limitations on uranium enrichment, a central part of the Lausanne framework agreement.

"Unlike the insistence from the Americans, we do not accept long-term limitations of 10, 12 years. And we told them how many years of limitations we are ready to accept," Khamenei said. (IRNA, 23 June)

Comment: With exactly one week left to the 30 June deadline for a final agreement, Ayatollah Khamenei’s comments and Majlis' action today undercut the framework agreement already reached in Lausanne and announced by Zarif and Moghirini on 2 April. Khamenei wants all sanctions be lifted before IAEA inspectors verify Iranian compliance with dismantling part of the country’s nuclear infrastructure. He would not allow IAEA, irrespective of IAEA’s Additional Protocol, to inspect suspected sites, such as Parchin. The Lausanne framework agreement also stipulates a ten-year freeze on 20% enrichment, something Khamenei now appeared to be opposed to. Probably the negotiating partner in the nuclear talks should be Khamenei, and not Zarif. At least we will find out if there is a chance to cut a nuclear deal with Iran. Extending the deadline will not resolve the problem, it only creates a JPOA Forever!

Majlis Impeaches Science Minister

Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology Reza Faraji-Dana was impeached today by Majlis with a vote of 145-110 with 15 abstentions. The minister was accused by the hard-right MPs of appointing figures as his deputies and advisors who were too close to the opposition leaders and the 2009 Green Movement. The impeachment article formally charged the minister for “politicizing the academic environment.”

Moments after Faraji-Dana was unseated by Majlis, President Hassan Rouhani appointed him as his senior advisor in science and education affairs.

Rouhani also appointed Mohammad Ali Najafi as the caretaker minister of science and education. Najafi was Rouhani’s first choice for the post last year, but could not get the vote of confidence in Majlis for the same reason Faraji was unseated today, too close to the opposition.

Photo credit: Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Reza Faraji-Dana speaks during impeachment session at Majlis; 20 August 20 2014. (IRNA/Press TV)

Zarif: I will not let my country be damaged by Holocaust denial statements

Javad Zarif.

Mohammed Javad Zarif has come received some criticism from conservative hard-liners in Iran for comments he made in an interview given to German media last February. On that occasion he said the Holocaust was undeniably a "horrifying tragedy." (AP, May 6)

Mr. Zarif had already last year said that the Holocaust was a "heinous crime."

In a session of the country's parliament Mr. Zarif defended his remarks and has said the promulgation of Holocaust denial by the Ahmadinejad government in recent years has tarnished Iran's image and has given its regional enemy Israel a propaganda coup.

Zarif maintains that he will not allow his country's reputation to be damaged and undermined by "Holocaust denial."

Zarif spoke of "Zionist projections against Iran" and accused Israel of spreading "Iranophobia."

He also proclaimed that, "Netanyahu shamelessly raises a hue and cry that Iran is denying the Holocaust and says that Holocaust-denying Iran is after creating another Holocaust by producing an atomic bomb."

In reference to the Holocaust he said that, "From the point of view of the Iranian people, massacres of innocent people anywhere and in any form are to be condemned."

During that majlis session where Zarif's comments were discussed video was played of the Supreme Leader Ali Khameini who has himself questioned the scope of the Holocaust. (RFE/RL, May 6)

The hard-line legislators present to hear Zarif defend his pronouncements said that they were "satisfied" with his "explanation."

Majlis Approves Nomination of Two Ministers – Rejects Another

Iranian lawmakers today approved nominations of two of the three remaining cabinet posts. They confirmed Ali Asghar Fani as education minister and Reza Faraji Dana as science, research and technology minister.

The Majlis, however, rejected a close ally of President Hassan Rouhani to become minister of sports and youth. 141 deputies out of 261 present today voted against the nomination of Reza Salehi Amiri.

Opponents said Salehi Amiri lacked experience for the post and had a role in the 2009 Green Movement. He served as a member of Rouhani’s campaign in this year’s presidential election.

File photo: majlis, the Iranian parliament. (IRNA)

Report on Iran Halting Production of 20% Uranium Not Verified – IAEA Diplomats

Diplomats at IAEA told Reuters today they had no information to substantiate a report by a member of Iran’s parliament that the country has halted its 20-percent uranium enrichment program.

On Wednesday, Iranian MP Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, deputy chairman of Majlis’ National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Iran has stopped the enrichment of uranium at 20-percent level. “There is no need for more production,” he added. He also said that Iran is ready to convert its current stockpile of 20-percent enriched uranium to fuel rods for its research reactor.

If the report were true, it meant Iran had halted its most sensitive nuclear activity before reaching any agreement with P5+1 on the future of its nuclear program

An envoy in Vienna headquarters of IAEA told Reuters that he believed Iran was continuing to refine uranium to the 20 percent threshold.

The IAEA, which regularly inspects Iranian nuclear sites, has declined to comment on the issue. But several other diplomats from member states said they were not aware of any such move by Iran either. (Reuters, 25 October)