A day after Iran’s parliament censured President Hassan Rouhani, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei published a statement on his website clarifying his own position on the matter.
Khamenei said there was nothing wrong with Rouhani trying to pursue diplomacy, and keeping in contact with the European Union, but said Rouhani is pinning too much hope on the idea of Europeans saving the nuclear deal or Iran’s economy.
Khamenei has warned Iran should withdraw from the nuclear deal if it no longer serves the national interests, which some Iranians are questioning since the US withdrew from the pact. Khamenei says the EU needs to safeguard trade and guarantee Iran access to the international oil market.
At the same time, Khamenei appeared to call on the parliament to back off on Rouhani, with his comments calling for unity against US sanctions, and saying that continuing to play up differences would only cause more problems.
He’s right. Worth trying, but not likely to work.
What isn’t said is what Iran would do next. The same guy has always said they don’t want a nuclear weapon, as distinct from the technology and potential, and in fact that does make a lot of sense for Iran, as it does for Japan and others.
It is what Israel says, but Israel lies about it and really has more nukes than Britain or France or India or Pakistan. They rival China, which has held back for its own reasons. Perhaps that is why Israel is so panicked by the Iranian position.
Iran (Persia) has been around a long time. Soon enough, they will finally conclude that there is no purpose to pursuing the good will of America – America is totally and permanently under Israeli control. And when Iran finally realizes that America, like Israel, hates them and will only try to hurt them, Iran can shake off its shoes and pursue alliances elsewhere. Shouldn’t be hard – outside of America/Israel/American stooges, it is a big World out there.