As negotiators at the Iran nuclear talks labored to make headway, Iran’s supreme leader called Saturday for the struggle against the US to continue, in comments suggesting that the Iranian regime’s hostility toward the US will persist no matter what the outcome of the talks.
The negotiations entered their 15th day Saturday with no indications of major progress after three extensions and four target dates for a deal, and diplomats said it remained unclear whether an agreement could be reached by Monday, the latest deadline.
Iran and the US have threatened to walk away unless the other side makes concessions. Although it was unclear whether Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was preparing the ground for the failure of the talks, his comments were likely to add to skepticism over the outcome at the negotiating table.
Khamenei was quoted as calling the US “the true embodiment of arrogance.” Khamenei told university students in Tehran to be “prepared to continue the struggle against arrogant powers.”
“Fighting global arrogance is the core of our revolution and we cannot put it on hold,” Khamenei said.
Even if Khamenei was not signaling that the talks have failed, his comments appear to be a blow to US hopes that an agreement will lead to improved bilateral relations that could translate into increased cooperation in a common cause—the fight against Islamic radical organizations, such as the Islamic State group.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had hinted at just that last week, suggesting a deal acceptable to his country will open the door to joint efforts on that front.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani indicated talks could go either way.
“We behaved so skillfully that if talks won’t succeed, the world would accept that Iran is for logic and dialogue and never left the negotiating table… and if we succeed by the grace of God, the world will know that the Iranian nation can resolve its problems through logic,” his website quoted him as saying. “Twenty-two months of negotiation means we have managed to charm the world, and it’s an art.”
At Sunday’s cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Khamenei and Rouhani, saying, “The ruler of Iran, Khamenei, was quoted as saying the US must be fought, regardless of whether there is a [nuclear] agreement. The president of Iran, Rouhani, led a hate march in the streets of Tehran in which US and Israeli flags were burned and many chanted ‘Death to America’ and ‘Death to Israel.’
“All of this took place while the parade of concessions continued in Vienna, concessions even on issues that were marked as red lines in the Lausanne deal, which itself was a bad deal. [The emerging deal] paves the way for Iran to get many nuclear bombs and gives it hundreds of billions of dollars to fund its machine of terror and conquest. This, this deal endangers the peace of the entire world.
“Iran is not hiding its intentions to continue its murderous aggression against those who are now negotiating with it. Maybe some among the powers are willing to give in to a reality dictated by Iran, which includes endless calls for the destruction of Israel. But we will not accept this.”
Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry met again Saturday, this time with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini present. Of the chief diplomats of the six countries negotiating with Iran, British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond and Foreign Ministers Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany and Laurent Fabius of France also are already in Vienna. Kerry spoke by telephone to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The Chinese and Russian foreign ministers have said they will come to Vienna if a deal appears close.
On Friday, Kerry suggested that some progress had been made, telling reporters that the “atmosphere is very constructive,” but stressing that “very difficult issues” remained to be resolved. Since the start of the current round 15 days ago, he has said twice that the negotiations couldn’t be open-ended and warned that the US was prepared to call an end to the talks.
Any deal is meant to clamp long-term and verifiable restrictions on Iranian nuclear programs that are technically adaptable to make weapons in exchange for sanctions relief for Iran.
The scope of access to UN inspectors monitoring Iran’s nuclear program remains a sticking point. The Americans want no restrictions. Iranian officials say unrestricted monitoring could be a cover for Western spying. Diplomats say Iran’s negotiators have signaled a willingness to compromise, but hardliners in Iran remain opposed to broad UN inspections.
Another unresolved matter is Iran’s demand for a UN arms embargo to be lifted as part of sanctions relief, a stance supported by Russia and China but opposed by the US and some Europeans.
By Israel Hayom
