The commander of Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has expressed support for the nuclear framework agreement that was announced on April 2, clearing the way for a comprehensive deal that could curb Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
In comments published by Iranian news agencies, Mohammad Ali Jafari praised the Iranian nuclear negotiators and said that they had fought for the rights of the nation while respecting the red lines set by the establishment.
“With God’s grace, the revolutionary children of Islamic Iran have succeeded in their diplomatic battle to defend the rights of the Iranian competently,” said Jaafari.
He added that the Iranian nation and the IRGC are appreciative of the “honest” efforts and resistance of the Iranian nuclear team on red lines.
The comments are the latest endorsement of the tentative deal reached in Lausanne by figures within the Iranian establishment.
The chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, Hassan Firouzabadi, endorsed the deal over the weekend and congratulated the Iranian nation over the success of nuclear talks.
Iranian media reported that majority of the conservative-dominated parliament have been positive about the outcome of the talks in Lausanne and said that Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and his team had negotiated based on Iran’s national interests.The lawmakers were briefed on the talks and the deal in an April 7 closed-door meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei who has the last say in all state affairs has so far remained silent.
But Friday Prayers leaders, who receive their talking points from Khamenei’s office, have endorsed the tentative deal and expressed support for the negotiators.
-- Golnaz Esfandiari
