Iran’s parliament to review text of nuclear deal

LONDON, July 21 Britain will on Friday brief businesses on how to capitalise on commercial opportunities in Iran thrown up by the lifting of sanctions and unfreezing of assets following a landmark deal with world powers over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Zarif, who led Iran’s negotiating team, was feted in street celebrations in Tehran after the deal was announced last Tuesday, but members of the conservative-dominated parliament have proved a tougher sell.

However, it was not clear this time whether there will be a vote by lawmakers on the deal or whether they will simply discuss it and possibly express concerns about it. Also, it remained unknown if and when a formal parliament statement on it would be issued.

Ali Akbar Velayati was speaking to Leader’s official website reporter on Tuesday, where he touched upon recent nuclear developments in the UN Security Council and other relevant issues of impact on Iran’s foreign policy in the region.

“In order to meet demands”, he says, “we have had certain flexibility concerning restrictions and monitoring; this flexibility has been goal-oriented and well-calculated”.

The Security Council also approved a provision that would automatically reinstate the harsh measures if Tehran reneges on its promises.

Under the agreement, Iran’s nuclear program will be curbed for a decade in exchange for potentially hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of relief from global sanctions.

But Zarif said that the long-running talks could never have satisfied Iran’s or the West’s every demand. Many key penalties on the Iranian economy, such as those related to the energy and financial sectors, could be lifted by the end of the year. Zarif, in a speech to parliament Tuesday broadcast on state radio, hailed the Security Council resolution, though he warned that any effort to restore the sanctions would cost a “heavy price”.

The top commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Mohammad Ali Jafari, said on Monday, according to Tasnim news agency: “Some parts of the (resolution) draft have clearly crossed the Islamic republic’s red lines, especially toward Iran’s military capabilities”.

He said that the resolution violates Iran’s rights in “maintaining and upgrading Iran’s defence capabilities”, in a reference to the long-term arms embargo that will remain in place for the foreseeable future under the Vienna deal.