Analysis by the PMOI/MEK
7 May 2018–On the brink of the May 12th Iran nuclear deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, senior Iranian regime officials are heard resorting to a variety of contradictory remarks. There are those boasting of standing firm and others expressing grave concerns.
In his recent YouTube message, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Tehran will never be willing to negotiate over any changes in the accord, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the regime’s “defensive capabilities” and/or “regional influence.”
On the other hand, Movahedi Kermani, representing Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran’s last Friday prayers sent interesting signals of concerns.
“We’re not afraid, we’re strong, we have an army, we have the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), … we have the likes of [IRGC Quds Force chief] Qassem Suleimani…” he said.
Other regime officials also provided their input.
“The truth is that the Europeans weren’t able to maintain the JCPOA. Like them, we are also concerned,” said Iranian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Baeedi-Nezhad.
If Iran intends to continue its nuclear activities, further threats and consequences may be awaiting,” said Ali Khorram of Tehran’s Khaje Nasir Toosi University of Technology.
The Bahar website wrote in this regard:
“If we hadn’t adopted a completely anti-U.S. policy after the 1979 revolution and maintained our independent positions while expanding economic and political links with this country, we would probably be facing lesser issues todays in regards to our objectives in the Middle East.”
Numerous flaws in the JCPOA is the main issue at hand, parallel to increasing concerns in regards to the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile program and meddling across the region. Iran, however, refuses to address these subjects.
Zarif’s claims raised in his YouTube message failed to respond to any of these matters and they were interestingly in complete contrast to the subjects he discussed two weeks earlier in New York.
In his Council of Foreign Relations speech, Zarif sought to mend the conflict between Tehran and Riyadh, claiming Iran is ready to end its regional meddling.
Kayhan daily, known as Khamenei’s mouthpiece, responded in a very telling manner.
“These uncalculated remarks are tantamount to accepting allegations raised by the U.S., U.K., France and the Saudis regarding Iran’s role in destabilizing the region… This paves the path for ‘JCPOA 2’ and…”
As far as reports show, Zarif’s comments are not taken seriously in Europe or the U.S. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders refused to respond to the remarks and the Europeans also didn’t take them seriously.
It appears Zarif’s comments were mainly aimed at advancing propaganda objectives and despite the fact that he spoke in English, his main targets were inside Iran. He sought a balance with his remarks at the CFR session in New York, only to launch a fierce outbreak by so-called Khamenei loyalists back in Iran. His vehicle was attacked following a speech he delivered in Tehran’s Amir Kabir University.
Anyone familiar with Iran’s politics knows quite well that Khamenei has the final word on all matters. Not Zarif; not Rouhani; but Khamenei.
If Khamenei had indeed decided to stand firm against a possible U.S. JCPOA pullout, rest assured we wouldn’t be witnessing a conglomerate of contradictory remarks.
The very existence of such contradictory language is inarguable proof that Iran’s regime is in a dangerous state of limbo.