Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is opposed to a landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers, a prominent hard-liner claimed Saturday. Ayatollah Khamenei, however, said that Iran did not and will not allow them to achieve their goal. “We won’t allow American political, economic or cultural influence in Iran“.
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TEHRAN – The fate of Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers is still not decided but it will not leave the country vulnerable to US influence, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday.
The Leader said he has already made it clear, even in the tenure of former US president, that “the era of hit and run has ended”, and that the Iranian nation will chase aggressors.
“The conservative cleric, Iran’s highest authority, has refrained from making decisive statements on the nuclear deal reached last month, which must still be approved by the U.S. Congress before taking effect”.
Iran, however, said it would only discuss its nuclear program and that its missiles are exclusively used as a deterrent against any potential foreign aggression.
Based on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as the agreement is called, Tehran will limit its nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, removal of anti-Iran sanctions.
In Iran, a debate is ongoing on the need for parliament to approve the agreement.
“It will be a long time, regardless of whether the deal goes through, before U.S. businesses will fully operate in Iran”, said Sarah Dayan, an analyst at consultancy The Risk Advisory Group in London.
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A majority of lawmakers – 201 of 290 – has requested that the agreement be submitted as a bill to be voted on and approved.
