Week of March 8th, 2021 | Iran Unfiltered is a weekly digest tracking Iranian politics & society by the National Iranian American Council
- Officials Insist U.S. Must Move First on a JCPOA Return
- Prominent Nongovernmental Charity Shut Down
- Khamenei Avoids Talking about a JCPOA Return in Latest Speech
Officials Insist U.S. Must Move First on a JCPOA Return
President Rouhani said during his weekly cabinet meeting that Iran would reciprocate U.S. actions on a JCPOA return. He stated: “If America lifts sanctions part by part or entirely, Iran will similar to the United States implement the nuclear deal part by part or entirely at once.”
Rouhani said the U.S. should take the first step on a JCPOA return. He stated: “Because America was the first to break the agreement it must be the first to return to the agreement. America must know that we are ready to implement the agreement.”
Rouhani added: “We are ready for a full for full implementation, or a part for part implementation. We are ready to fulfill all commitments for all commitments, and are also ready for a partial fulfillment of commitments for a partial fulfillment of commitments.”
Rouhani said Iran would “immediately” return to its JCPOA commitments after the U.S. does. He stated: “We have announced to the White House many times clearly that we are ready and that you have to return to the law. Don’t be embarrassed, return to the law and don’t delay. You should know that if you return to your commitments [under the JCPOA], we will immediately return to all of our commitments.”
Rouhani said Iran sticks to its agreements and that 15 IAEA reports until 2019 had confirmed Iran’s full compliance to the JCPOA. Rouhani said if the U.S. returns to its JCPOA commitments, Iran will do the same and “stand with them until the last day.”
Rouhani added that after a JCPOA return, the U.S. will experience a “better situation” in the region. He stated: “You will have better days and will experience a better situation in the region.”
Rouhani also discussed the domestic situation and called on his opponents to not sabotage a JCPOA return. He stated: “If we think about what will happen in the [presidential] election and we put aside the interests and desires of the people, we will not get the elections we want.”
Later in the week, Rouhani had a call with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and said Iran’s “definitive” position on a JCPOA return was “action for action.” Rouhani told Johnson that the U.S. has until now taken “no practical action” for returning the JCPOA.
Rouhani said that the obstacles the U.S. had created to prevent Iran from accessing its funds abroad had “doubled” the “coronavirus problems” for the Iranian people.
Rouhani also denied any Iranian role in recent attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq. Rouhani told Johnson there are “clear sides in the region that do not want calm and stability” and that “America shouldn’t fall into the trap of their conspiracies.”
Rouhani said the recent attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq were “suspicious” and that Iran has asked the Iraqi government to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi gave an interview to Sputnik where he responded to a Russian proposal for a JCPOA return. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has suggested the U.S. and Iran make “synchronized steps” to restore the JCPOA. He stated that “simultaneous steps on behalf of Iran and the US would allow avoiding disputes about who should take the first step forward.”
Araghchi said he has “no doubt about good Russian intentions,” but said America must take the first step. Araghchi also said there have been no direct or indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran.
Prominent Nongovernmental Charity Shut Down
Imam Ali’s Popular Students Relief Society (IAPSRS), a leading nongovernmental charity organization in Iran, has been shut down following a court order. This follows the arrest of the founder of the organization, Sharmin Meymandinejad, by the IRGC’s intelligence agency last July. He was charged with “insulting the [Supreme] Leader and the Islamic Republic’s founder and endangering national security.” He was later released after paying bail.
IAPSRS has been active for over 20 years. It had a presence in 20 Iranian provinces and worked to help eliminate poverty and help children.
The ruling to disband IAPSRS stemmed from a complaint by the Interior Ministry, which claimed it “deviated” from its original mission and “insulted religious beliefs.” However, there have been differences within the Rouhani administration on the ruling to shut down the organization.
A manager in the office of Rouhani’s vice president for legal affairs has called for the legal proceedings into IAPRSRS to be “restarted or delayed.” This official says the office of Rouhani’s legal aid was not present in the proceedings that led to IAPRSRS being shut down.
Over 15 human rights organizations have also published a statement calling on the Iranian government to suspend the order disbanding the organization. They said it “clearly violates freedom of association and expression.”
The statement, which was signed by groups such as Human Rights Watch and the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, stated: “The Imam Ali Society, in a severely restricted civil space, works within the legal framework to provide vital support for marginalized groups, including children.”
Khamenei Avoids Talking about a JCPOA Return in Latest Speech
Ayatollah Khamenei gave a televised address on the occasion of an Islamic holiday but made no mention of the current U.S.-Iran impasse over a JCPOA return. However, Khamenei did broadly condemn U.S. policies in the region, particularly its support for the Saudi war in Yemen. He suggested that with regards to “enemies,” Iranians should exercise “long-term vision, perseverance and patience.”
Khamenei also said Iran’s government has “no problems” with people who are not “fighting” against it. He said the Islamic Republic has no problems with “pseudo-intellectuals” and “dissidents.” He stated: “This is not our problem. We have no problem with your beliefs. You should not act like an enemy.”
BBC Persian analyzed Khamenei’s speech as the latest in a long line of somewhat conciliatory public remarks before Iranian elections. BBC Persian says that before elections, Khamenei tries to strike a more inclusive tone regarding the Islamic Republic’s opponents. Iran’s next presidential election is this June.
BBC Persian cited different examples. This included in 2013, when Khamenei said that people who do not support the Islamic Republic but support their country should still turn out to vote. Khamenei made similar comments before elections in 2016 and 2017.
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