Former Iranian nuclear negotiator lashes out at JCPOA

Saeed Jalili, who led Iran’s nuclear negotiating team when Ahmadinejad was president, has lashed out at the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in an Instagram post.

The following is the translation of his posting Alef.ir published on September 7:

“The nuclear dossier was handed over to the 11^th government after the Islamic Republic had made substantial progress in the nuclear industry. But our acceptance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action would amount to renunciation of 100 or so of our inalienable rights.

“Unfortunately, under this deal, we have accepted to be labeled an exception. In other words, we have agreed to be entitled to fewer rights and be committed to more undertakings than other nuclear countries. Even worse, we have retreated from our entitlements under the Geneva deal.

“Many of the time-related restrictions of Iran’s nuclear industry are far from clear. Under this deal, we would need some 40 years to reach the 190,000 separative work units the Supreme Leader has underlined the country needs.

“Security is another red line of the establishment; unfortunately, under JCPOA we have agreed to unconventional access, supervision and inspections which would compromise our intelligence.

“The joint commission which is to be formed under JCPOA will act against Iran too. For instance, if a member of this commission, say the US, accused Iran of failing to act in line with its commitments, it would be easy for sanctions to snap back into place.

Also under the recent UN Security Council resolution, Iran’s case would remain under Chapter Seven for 10 years and the nuclear issue would sit on the agenda of the Security Council for a decade.”

In conclusion, the former top negotiator has said he hopes IRIB [radio and TV organization] airs in entirety the comments he made when he attended a session of the JCPOA Review Committee in parliament.