Iran's President Hassan Rouhani Tuesday defended a landmark nuclear deal with world powers that promises modest sanctions relief, saying his government didn't fear "the few" domestic critics.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani Tuesday defended a landmark nuclear deal
with world powers that promises modest sanctions relief, saying his government
didn't fear "the few" domestic critics.
Mr. Rouhani's defense came after repeated criticism by hardliners in parliament
and the powerful Revolutionary Guards of the deal agreed in November that also
requires
Iran
to
temporarily curb parts of its nuclear program.
"The initial agreement with the six major powers on the nuclear issue was
not a simple task but very difficult and complicated," Mr. Rouhani said in
remarks broadcast live on state television.
"It required brave decision-making... We should not and do not fear the
fuss made by the few people or a small percentage" criticizing the deal,
he said.
The critics however have been united in questioning what
Iran
gains
from the deal, under which the Islamic republic agreed to roll back parts of
its nuclear drive for six months in exchange for modest sanctions relief and a
promise by Western powers not to impose new sanctions.
They say fewer concessions could have been made by the nuclear negotiating
team, led by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
In recent weeks, hardliners in the conservative-dominated parliament have
sought to form a committee to supervise the negotiating process, without
success.
Government officials say the nuclear dossier will remain under direct control
of the Supreme National Security Council and that final decisions still rest
with
Iran
's
ultimate authority, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Mr. Rouhani Tuesday insisted he has the full support of Mr. Khamenei.
"In all important and sensitive steps along the way, the supreme leader
has backed the government and its policies," he said. "
Iran
is in
a special situation that needs to be replaced by normalcy."
In
Tehran
,
lawmakers are readying a bill that would oblige the government to enrich
uranium to 60% if
Iran
is
hit by new sanctions.
Under the nuclear deal in
Geneva
,
Iran
will
limit its enrichment of uranium to 5%. The deal--which is yet to come into
force--is aimed at creating a window of diplomatic opportunity for Iran and the
P5+1 group of world powers, comprising the United States, Britain, France,
China and Russia plus Germany.
The sides negotiating to find a lasting solution to the decade-long standoff
over
Iran
's
nuclear activities, which Western powers suspect mask military objectives
despite repeated denials by
Tehran
.
Talks to remove remaining obstacles before the deal is implemented will resume
in
Geneva
on
Thursday.
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