The Majlis speaker said Iran will not take any action to meet new commitments until it is assured of the American side’s final decision about a prospective long-term nuclear settlement, referring to a bill US President Barak Obama conceded to Congress on Tuesday allowing the US lawmakers to review any deal reached between Iran and the major powers on Tehran’s nuclear work.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will take no action until the decision to be made by the other side has been finalized,” IRNA quoted Ali Larijani as saying in an address to an open session of parliament on Sunday. The bill blocks Obama’s ability to waive many US sanctions on Tehran while Congress reviews the deal. It also allows Congress a final vote on whether to lift sanctions imposed by the lawmakers. Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) are in talks to secure an agreement by June 30 under which Iran would accept constraints on its nuclear program in exchange for relief from international sanctions.
“(Their move) has made it clear that they are seeking to derail the negotiations,” he said, adding, “They have to offer firmer guarantees that the talks will yield results” and that the continuation of the negotiations is not pointless. Noting that the bill will not give them a chance to drive a harder bargain, the speaker said, “But rather it will put them in a tougher position to guarantee the deal.” Elsewhere, Larijani pointed to various analyses put forth about the move, saying, “Some of the analyses indicate the incapability of the US president, some see it as trickery, while others view it as (part of a plot) to prevent a (final) deal.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will continue the path of negotiations considering the emerging conditions.”
Saudi Move to Backfire
Larijani strongly denounced the Saudi aggression against Yemen, saying its intended objectives will fail to materialize. “You know yourselves that you will not achieve your absurd goals through waging war,” he said, addressing Saudi officials.
“It will only undermine your status among Muslims.”
“The savage attacks have hurt the feelings of Muslims,” the senior lawmaker said, adding, “Has Islam allowed killing innocent people under a paranoid delusion? Has Islam permitted destroying Muslims’ houses because of an absurd rivalry (to dominate the region)? Has Islam allowed fomenting disputes among Muslims under ridiculous excuses?”
Pointing to Iran’s four-point plan proposed to address the situation in Yemen which was submitted to the United Nations on Friday, he described inclusive “national dialogue” as the only solution to solve the crisis raging in the war-wracked country.
“It is imperative for all Yemeni groups to resolve their differences through holding national dialogue.”
