Nuclear Diplomacy Continues As Iran Says It Can Build A Bomb

Javan Daily has lashed out at the leader of reformist Jomhouriat [Republicanism] Party Rasoul Montajabnia for calling the Raisi administration's ministers, "yes men, political dwarves and individuals without commitments."

Javan daily said what Didban Iran [Iran Monitor] website had published as comments made by Montajabnia were examples of "insults and swear words."

Javan also criticized conservative websites such as Tabnak for "publishing accusations they would have condemned as insult if the same thing was said about them."

Montajabnia had characterized Raisi's comments about his economic plans including price rises as "irrational and childish." Meanwhile, he called Raisi's economic team "the weakest team of its kind since the 1979 revolution," and accused them of "masters of bluffing and making grandiose claims." He added that the members of the Raisi government are not fit for executive positions they hold.

In his interview with Didban Iran, Montajabnia had charged that Raisi's diplomatic team have always been bribing the Russians rather than trying to further nuclear negotiations with the West. He added that the government should stop its secrecy and talk to the nation about Russia's role in the failure of the nuclear talks, which prevented the lifting of sanctions and easing Iran's economic crisis.

He also seriously criticized the government for saying that the it can improve the economy despite US sanctions. "The government should be honest to the people and say that it is selling the country's oil at a discount price because of the sanctions. But unfortunately, the government is not brave enough to tell the truth to the people," Montajabnia said.

He accused Raisi of giving key jobs to people who are inferior to him in terms of knowledge and expertise and charged that "they are yes men who lack knowledge and executive experience."

Javan wrote that Montajabnia's behavior was contrary to the Iranian reformists claim about being the advocates of polite dialogue.

The reformist politician also accused the Raisi administration of being secretive about its performance and plans and also charged that First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, and his vice president for economic affairs Mohsen Rezaei have no real background in handling economic responsibilities. "The sheer presence of such individuals in Raisi's economic team has prompted economists to declare that a bad outcome is awaiting Iran’s economy."

Montajabnia argued that Riasi’s lofty promises a year ago when he took office are remembered as hollow slogans, and this creates wave after wave of dissatisfaction among Iranians on a daily basis.

He accused Raisi and First Vice President Mokhber of issuing orders rather than solving the country's problems while the nation, particularly the underprivileged strata are under immense economic pressures. He added that the Raisi government has set historic records of inflation as prices of for food and similar essentials have risen by 2 to 5 times in less than one year.

He said, "I am worried for Iran's future," adding that "We should accept that Iran's economy is bankrupt as most economists say, and that the situation is getting worse."

Following a meeting with the members of parliament's energy committee on Sunday, Mohammad Eslami, vice president and the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said that the parliamentarians are pushing to turn the so-called comprehensive roadmap for nuclear industry into law in such a way that the nuclear development process is not damaged by the change of administrations.

The document, which was unveiled on April 9 this year by the AEOI, includes the country’s plans for nuclear activities such as power generation, increasing nuclear radiation applications, radiopharmaceuticals, protection against radiation, and developing nuclear infrastructures. 

He added that the AEOI wants people to feel the tangible effects of nuclear technology in their lives. 

During the past weeks, many Iranian observers including commentators and lawmakers criticized President Ebrahim Raisi for claiming that the people wish to resist rather than reach an agreement that would lift US sanctions and bring about a breakthrough in Iran's economy.

Some former Iranian diplomats suggested that Raisi and other ultraconservatives take advantage of the current foreign policy impasse over the revival of the JCPOA for their own personal or factional political gains to strengthen their foothold in Iran's domestic politics.

Diplomats negotiating to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, JCPOA, have repeatedly said that an agreement has almost been completed in 11 months of talks in Vienna, but Tehran demands more sanctions be lifted than Washington is willing to waive.

“We shared our proposed ideas, both on substance and form, to pave the way for a swift conclusion of Vienna negotiations which were aimed at fixing the damaging complicated situation caused by the US unilateral and unlawful withdrawal,” Ali Bagheri-Kani tweeted Sunday afternoon, adding that Iran is working closely with its JCPOA partners, in particular the European coordinator of the talks, Josep Borrel, “to give another chance to the US to demonstrate good faith and act responsibly.”

“We stand ready to conclude the negotiations in a short order, should the other side be ready to do the same,” he added.

In in an essay in the Financial Times Tuesday, Borrel who is the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy said he has proposed a new draft text to revive the deal, and that he has “concluded that the space for additional significant compromises has been exhausted”.

"I have now put on the table a text that addresses, in precise detail, the sanctions lifting as well as the nuclear steps needed to restore the JCPOA," he wrote.

Yaghoub Rezazadeh, member of the presiding board of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Parliament told the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) earlier Sunday that a new round of nuclear talks with world powers will begin in Vienna, possibly soon, “given the efforts of the European partners” in the deal to revive the 2015 agreement, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

According to Rezazadeh, the members of the committee have held several meetings with Bagheri-Kani in the past few days and although Iran has offered to host the new talks, they will probably be held in Vienna.

Rezazadeh’s comments were the first time an Iranian official has spoken about the possibility of a new round of talks.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters during the week that Washington was reviewing the "draft understanding" Borrell shared with Iran and other parties to the 2015 deal and would respond directly to the EU.

Borrell also said there is a risk of a dangerous nuclear crisis, set against the prospect of increased isolation for Iran and its people, if the deal is rejected.

On Saturday two Telegram channels with links to IRGC suggested that Iran may build nuclear warheads “in the shortest possible time” if attacked by the US or Israel.

Israeli has repeatedly threatened in recent months to use all means at its disposal to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear threat and has said its armed forces are preparing for action if necessary. The US and Israel agreed in July to take a joint stance against Iran's nuclear program and involvement in regional conflicts and said they would work together to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Iran has now enriched enough uranium to 60 percent that if further enriched to 90 percent, the fissile material will be sufficient for a nuclear bomb within a few weeks.

Yaghoub Rezazadeh, a member of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said on Sunday that the decision has been taken thanks to the latest efforts of the European parties to reach a conclusion about the negotiations. 

Rezazadeh added that the Islamic Republic had proposed that the next round would be held in Iran, but the final location of the negotiations will be determined following the agreement by the parties.

He said during the past few days the members of the committee held several meetings with Ali Bagheri-Kani, the head of Tehran’s negotiating team.

Moreover, Ali Bagheri-Kani tweeted on Sunday that “We shared our proposed ideas, both on substance and form, to pave the way for a swift conclusion of Vienna negotiations which were aimed at fixing the damaging complicated situation caused by the US unilateral and unlawful withdrawal.”

He added that Tehran works closely with the JCPOA partners, in particular with the EU coordinator of the talks “to give another chance to the US to demonstrate good faith and act responsibly. As Iran, we stand ready to conclude the negotiations in a short order, should the other side be ready to do the same.”

State Department spokesman Ned Price said on July 26 that the US was mulling European Union’s proposals over Iran’s nuclear program. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell recently produced new ideas to bridge differences between the United States and Iran and allow both to return to the agreement.

Jomhouri Eslami (Islamic Republic), was launched in 1979 by current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as the mouthpiece of the fundamentalist Islamic Republic Party but has increasingly adopted a critical stance against hardliners who have established full control over the state.

The newspaper wrote on Saturday, July 30 in an editorial by its editor Massih Mohajeri, , a cleric who maintains his own independent views regardless of the paper's former political affiliation, that the Raisi administration has visible weaknesses in the area of foreign policy and nuclear negotiations."

During the past year, Jomhouri Eslami has opposed the Iranian government's official views on foreign policy issues including relations with the Taliban in Afghanistan, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the nuclear talks and domestic political issues including the violent crackdown on what Iranian hardliners call "bad hijab" women.

Diplomats negotiating to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, JCPOA, have repeatedly said that an agreement has almost been completed in 11 months of talks in Vienna, but Tehran demands more sanctions be lifted than Washington is willing to waive.

The daily wrote that many Iranians ask in political circles, family gatherings and government and private business office meetings "Where are we standing in the talks about [reviving] the nuclear deal and where are we headed? Will the negotiations result in an agreement or remain futile?"

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According to the daily, the question arises by the fact that contrary to slogans by Iranian officials, a major part of the economy and the people's livelihoods are tied to the sanctions. The newspaper stressed that slogans about nullifying sanctions without doing any harm to the people have led to no tangible results.

"Those who chanted that slogan have been in charge of the country's executive affairs for a year now, and they have reached the conclusion that Iran's economic problems cannot be solved without lifting the sanctions," Mohajeri wrote.However, he acknowledged that part of the country's problems are the outcome of the inefficiency of Raisi's economic ministers and Raisi has so far refused to replace them.

"The paper said there is now an opportunity to reach a fair deal. “While officials on both side agree that an agreement is within reach, and some regional players have talked about a golden opportunity to reach a deal, Iranian officials are expected to realize that no better situation is going to emerge for an agreement," stressed the Jomhouri Eslami, adding that the Iranian nation will be happy with the achievement that was within reach in May 2021 on the final days of Iran's previous government, and suggested that Iranian negotiators should strive to finalize that agreement.

During the past weeks, many Iranian observers including commentators and lawmakers criticized President Ebrahim Raisi for claiming that the people wish to resist rather than reach an agreement that would lift the sanctions and bring about a breakthrough in Iran's economy.

Some former Iranian diplomats suggested that Raisi and other ultraconservatives take advantage of the current foreign policy impasse over the revival of the JCPOA for their own personal or factional political gains to strengthen their foothold in Iran's domestic politics.

This comes while several Iranian politicians including former vice President Mostafa Hashemi Taba have said that the current foreign policy impasse perpetuates the country's paralyzing economic crisis, one of the worst in Iran's modern history.