Khamenei: JCPOA Must Be Changed in Iran’s Favor

Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, says conditions have changed compared to five years ago and he accepts that the JCPOA must be modified, but this change must be in Iran’s favor, as conditions have changed to the benefit of the Islamic Republic.

Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, spoke of his agreement with changing the JCPOA in his Nowruz address.

Khamenei said that America’s maximum pressure campaign has failed. He alluded to former U.S. President Donald Trump and added: “That previous fool designed and implemented this maximum pressure policy to put Iran in a weak position, so that Iran, because of its weakness, would be forced to come to the negotiating table, and then he could impose his demands. Well, he’s gone and forgotten, and he left in disgrace! His departure wasn’t peaceful; it was disgraceful, and he disgraced both himself and his country.”

Without naming names, Khamenei referred to current American leaders and added: “These people will also be gone and forgotten, and Islamic Iran will remain with greater power and dignity.”

The Supreme Leader, regarding the JCPOA nuclear agreement, said: “Some Americans have objections to the JCPOA agreement itself. I heard that some Americans say that since 2015-2016 when the JCPOA was signed, conditions have changed today, so the JCPOA must also be modified. I also accept that conditions today have changed from 2015-2016, but the conditions haven’t changed in America’s favor—they’ve changed in our favor.”

It appears that Khamenei was referring to statements made by Wendy Sherman. Sherman was a member of the U.S. delegation in the JCPOA group and is currently among Joe Biden’s options for Deputy Secretary of State. She recently told the U.S. Senate that the geopolitical conditions in the region in 2021 have changed compared to 2016, and therefore a stronger agreement with Iran than the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA should be reached.

According to ISNA, Khamenei said: “Iran has become much stronger from 2015 until today; it has been able to rely on itself and gain self-confidence.”

Addressing American leadership, he said: “Yes, conditions have changed to your detriment. If the JCPOA is to be modified, it must be changed in Iran’s favor, not in yours.”

Previously, Islamic Republic officials emphasized that they would not accept changing the provisions of the JCPOA, and if Iran is to return to its JCPOA commitments, all sanctions must be lifted.

According to Mehr News Agency, Khamenei said: “The country’s policy on the JCPOA has been announced and agreed upon, and there should be no deviation from it whatsoever. The Americans must lift all sanctions, and then we will verify and we do not consider American promises credible—paper is not useful. Action is necessary; they must lift the sanctions in practice.”

Jake Sullivan, the White House National Security Advisor, told reporters on Friday, March 12, 2021: “Diplomacy with Iran is ongoing, but not directly at the moment.”

He clarified: “There are communications through Europeans and other channels so we can tell the Iranians what our position is regarding mutual commitment and learn about their position. Currently, we are waiting for the Iranians’ response to see what their intentions are.”

Sullivan added: “This is not simple and easy work, but we believe that we are currently in a diplomatic process that can achieve our goal, which is to prevent Iran’s access to nuclear weapons.”

According to the White House National Security Advisor, the United States intends to “achieve this goal through diplomacy.”

“Intelligence Agencies Want to Make Elections Unimpressive”

The pressure from the economic crisis caused by sanctions and the increasing isolation of the Islamic Republic in the international community has placed the Iranian people in severe hardship. Economic turmoil, continuous price increases, severe depreciation of the national currency, and Iran’s critical situation can be seen in protest movements of various sectors such as retirees, workers, and teachers, and long lines to buy chicken and eggs at government prices are further evidence of the deterioration of people’s living conditions.

Afshin Kalaei, a member of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce’s board of representatives, says that if an international agreement is reached and relations improve, the year 1400 (2021-2022) could be a better year for Iran’s economy, business, and trade. However, he emphasizes that Iran must have a logical relationship with the world.

This private sector activist believes that if this does not happen, it is predicted that Iran will experience 65 percent inflation and a dollar above 35,000 tomans by the end of 1400 (2021-2022).

The reflection of this situation can be seen in the loss of public confidence in the Islamic Republic’s government apparatus, including reluctance to participate in presidential elections. Many domestic and foreign critics have said that participation in the June elections would be very low. However, the Supreme Leader has a different view.

According to Fars News Agency, Khamenei, regarding the presidential elections, said: “Intelligence and espionage agencies of countries like America and the Zionist regime have, for some time now, not just recently, been trying to make the June elections unimpressive. They either accuse the organizers of engineering the elections, accuse the Guardian Council, or discourage the people.”

Khamenei added: “The presidential election is a very important matter. When some people say the president has no authority and is merely an administrator, all of that is contrary to fact, and either it is said out of ignorance or there is ulterior motive involved. The major management of the country and the entire state budget are in the hands of the president, and the deputy for planning and budget is in the hands of the president. The presidency is an important position.”

Source: DW