Iranian Hardliners Reject Proposed U.S. Deal, Cite Lack of Sanctions Relief

Iranian hardliners have mounted a rearguard rejection of a proposed deal with the United States. The Guardian reported that critics inside the regime argue the draft fails to guarantee sanctions relief, compensation, or control of the Strait of Hormuz.

” Meysam Nili, managing director of Rajanews and brother-in-law of former president Ebrahim Raisi, called the deal a catastrophic capitulation and urged Iranians not to sit quietly.

Mehdi Mohammadi, an adviser to the head of the negotiating team Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, issued an audio rebuttal. He stated the deal would end the war, including Israel’s offensive in Lebanon, and that Tehran has not been required to make any new commitments on its nuclear programme.

Mohammadi said the means of disposal of Iran’s highly enriched uranium, including down-blending inside Iran, are left to future discussions lasting 60 days.

He added that the text allows Iran and Oman to charge fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz and would prevent Israeli commercial ships from using the waterway. ” He said that in the second phase of the deal the United States had agreed to lift primary sanctions for the first time.

On the nuclear programme, Mohammadi said the only statement in the text is that Iran would not build or purchase nuclear weapons.

He said the proposed deal was better for Iran than the 2015 nuclear pact because Tehran had shown it could control the Strait of Hormuz. Mohammadi acknowledged that the text on the release of half of Iran’s frozen money held abroad, roughly $12bn (£9bn), had not been finalised. He stated Arab countries have pledged the $12bn in frozen funds.