Hardline political factions in Iran attacked (Arabic link) the negotiations that the Islamic Republic is currently conducting with the international powers on the nuclear issue, claiming that these talks are “humiliating” Iran.
“Washington does not want to fully lift the sanctions,” complained Ham Anshidi, a website associated with conservative political factions in Iran. The site quoted Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying that Iran should not give in when it comes to its nuclear program.
These remarks follow two days of nuclear talks in Muscat, Oman, between Iran and the P5+1 nations—the U.S., Britain, France, China, Russia, and Germany. The deadline for a comprehensive agreement is November 24.
In a secret letter sent last month, U.S. President Barack Obama reportedly stressed to Khamenei that any cooperation in fighting Islamic State militants would depend on reaching a comprehensive nuclear deal.
Yesterday, a top Iranian official admitted that the Islamic Republic responded to the letter, the first official acknowledgement of such correspondence. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, revealed that this is not the first time that such a thing has taken place. According to i24 news Shamkhani also said, “We responded that we can’t accept at all to have a decorative, caricaturistic nuclear industry.”
Many American allies in the Middle East, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, are wary of Washington’s bid to engage Iran diplomatically. One concern is that even if an agreement will be signed, Iran will continue to secretly work to manufacture nuclear bombs.