Mehrdad Moarefian \ Chris Rawlins
Summary
IRGC Commander spells out guidelines for nuclear negotiators; Defense minister says Iran has established deterrence against attack; Senior HAMAS official’s trip to Iran reportedly delayed; Rouhani’s appointee for UN post involved in ’79 attack on US embassy
Military and Security
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari advised Iran’s negotiators to consider the Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) nuclear agreement void “If there are any violations of Iran’s rights to nuclear energy or if any part of the agreement is violated by the West or America.”
“All the teams have had negotiators to help our country and our foreign policy up to this present time [and] to help with national solidarity by demanding basic rights of the Iranian nation and standing against the nuclear blackmail of the oppressors.”
Jafari said that there are ambiguities in the JPOA that can help or harm the government and advised Rouhani’s administration to “pay close attention from the first step to the final step to achieve our ultimate goal [retaining our inalienable right to enrich], God forbid we neglect and lack visual acuity and end up in a position detrimental to our country.”
Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan discussed Iran’s military capabilities, preparedness, and views regarding the US:
Dehghan said that because of defensive preparedness and capabilities, Iran’s “enemies do not dare to either attack us or take any action against us…We are not a threat against any country, but we are able to respond to any threat at any level.”
“America has long-term plans in the region, especially for the ruling Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; the Americans want to express the support for their proxies in the region.”
Head of IRGC Public Affairs Brig. Gen. Ramezan Sharif said that Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system “shows that there is a serious threat facing the occupying Zionist regime” and that, rather than providing security, “it is a serious threat to the Zionists.” National Security and Foreign Policy Parliamentary Commission Spokesman MP Hossein Naghavi said the system is a “bluff” and that “The hollowness of the claims by the Israeli regime about its military might has been established for the region…The Zionist regime makes such comments in order to weaken its opponents and enemies, but Hezbollah forces have no fear of such bluster.”
Head of the Basij Organization Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naghdi stated “If we want to free humanity we must first bury the hatchet of knowledge into the unjust and arrogant powers.” Naghdi added: “The frontlines of the battle are cultural, economic, and scientific, for all of which we have plenty of talent for.”
Politics
President Hassan Rouhani addressed directors of Iran’s Free Trade Zone and said he is willing to “work with every faction and group that works for the national interest, and I will stand against anyone who prefers their personal or group interests above the national interest…The eleventh government is a non-partisan government and the responsibility of such a government is greater because it must answer to every group.”
President Rouhani has named Hamid Abutalebi to succeed Mohammad Khazaee as Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations. Hamid Abutalebi is reportedly linked to the 1979 attack on the U.S. embassy in Tehran and has prior experience as a diplomat in Italy, Belgium, and Australia and
President Rouhani, speaking on Kish Island, said that the Persian Gulf is “the moving, beating heart” of Iran’s economy, and that Iran must make the most of this “precious jewel.”
Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham criticized the United Nations Human Rights Council for trying to “impose standards” and for issuing a resolution that was “anti-Iran.”
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei pardoned or commuted the sentences of 920 prisoners at the recommendation of Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani.
Diplomacy
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with New Zealand’s new ambassador to Iran and discussed strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations.
Hamas Political Bureau Chief Khaled Meshaal’s trip to Tehran has been delayed for unknown reasons, according to Ahlul Bayt News Agency. His meetings in Tehran were expected to address Iran’s resumption of military and financial support to Hamas.
Iranian Ambassador to Sudan Javad Tokabadi stressed Iran’s willingness to expand relations with Sudan in a ceremony held by the Iranian embassy’s cultural center in Khartoum.
Communications Minister Mahmoud Vaezi said at the Sixth World Telecommunications Development Conference that Iran was negotiating with 12 countries to develop telecommunications technology. Vaezi added that Iranian officials held bilateral meetings on such cooperation with officials from Pakistan, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, China, Mali, Malaysia, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, and the Philippines.