A senior advisor to the Leader says the nuclear negotiating team has observed all the red lines set by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in the nuclear talks with the major powers, the most recent round of which was held in Vienna from November 18 to 24.
After a meeting with the visiting UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Iraq Nicolay Mladenov on Sunday, Ali Akbar Velayati told reporters that the Leader has backed engagement in the nuclear negotiations, the extension of the talks and the negotiators, saying, "The Iranian nuclear negotiating team has observed all the red lines set by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution so far and made great efforts in this regard which should be appreciated," IRNA reported. Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) failed to meet a November 24 deadline to seal a final nuclear deal and extended their talks on a long-term settlement to the 12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.
Velayati, who is the director of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council, said, "Some (people) may say the talks are helpful and some other may call them unhelpful, but all should bear in mind that the Leader's comments are considered the final word and after his consent to the talks and the extension of talks, nothing should be said in opposition."
In response to a question about the purpose of western officials' visits to Iran in relation to the Iraq crisis, the Leader’s adviser on international affairs said, "When they (western officials) observed that the Iraqi nation and government, accompanied by Iran, managed to defeat the western-backed elements in the region, they (decided to) come to Iran and seek help to make up for (their losses)." Velayati added, "I told the UN envoy for Iraq that Iran continues its assistance to the people in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, irrespective of the support of other countries or the United Nations, since they are considered our allies and are under attack by those who have been incited by foreigners."
