Iran’s pragmatic approach to the nuclear agreement once founded on the reality of logistical circumstances and passivity are no longer part of the equation for future talks. What seemed logical and reasonable then does not apply now as its counterparts were the ones who failed to keep the agreement. The real problem for the west now is evident. It does not truly fear Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities as much as it does Iran’s position in West Asia. The west now realizes that Iran is a dominant country in the region with or without nuclear weapons.
Iran Rises as Dominant Regional Power
By Dr. Hossein Omidi, PhD
Deputy Director of Scientific and International Cooperation and Communication,
Farhangian Teacher Education University
November 21, 2021
“Concerning the JCPOA, only actions matter not empty words and promises”
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution,
Grand Ayatollah Imam Khamenei
Iran has constantly been ignored as a regional hegemon in the Middle East. The new Vienna talks scheduled for November 29, 2021, will provide Iran with a grand opportunity to exhibit its rightful place in the region as a major world power to be reckoned with. The revival of the 2015 Nuclear Accord between Iran, the U.S and world powers has taken a sharp turn in favor of the Iranian Islamic Republic. The other nations are forced to recognize that the possibility of a new deal is slim if Iran’s demands are not fully met. The U.S. breach of the accord under Donald Trump has resulted in alarming realities that the world remained blind to. It became clear that Iran was the superior party to this agreement, in keeping with all its obligations without wavering. It was only when the U.S. pulled out of the agreement in that Iran proceed to expand its nuclear develops and strengthening its position as a capable power to be reckoned with.
Iran’s pragmatic approach to the nuclear agreement once founded on the reality of logistical circumstances and passivity are no longer part of the equation for future talks. What seemed logical and reasonable then does not apply now as its counterparts were the ones who failed to keep the agreement. The real problem for the west now is evident. It does not truly fear Iran’s nuclear weapon capabilities as much as it does Iran’s position in West Asia. The west now realizes that Iran is a dominant country in the region with or without nuclear weapons. The 2015 deal did not change the fundamental beliefs and nature of Iran or its political system. Instead, it revealed the Islamic Republic of Iran’s most powerful and insular forces that make it a self-sufficient nation able to thrive from within in the face of cruel and illegal sanctions. Iran has surfaced as the Islamic Republic that reflects its ideological strengths and pursuits.
With the election of Ayatollah Dr. Ebraim Raisi as president in June, the usual passivity and pragmatism that led to the original nuclear deal is no longer present. The U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and its consequences not only emboldened Iran’s position as a self-sufficient nation but reestablish its rightful position as the regional power it always has been. What was once easy to ignore by the west is no longer possible. This is evident by the apparent urgency of the Biden administration to renew the deal. The new paradigm that places Iran as the dominant negotiator has been a source of exaggerated claims about the menace Iran poses and has resulted in extreme measures by the U.S. to move swiftly. The U.S. has sent a delegation to consult with its Middle East allies ahead of the talks. It encompasses a 10-day tour of four countries. This is evidence that Biden is very uncertain of the outcome of the negotiations due to Iran’s re-emboldened position. The forces of old are no longer at work and cannot be relied on by the west. They must now convince themselves and the world that Iran is a threat to the world and the region. It is obvious that the rhetoric by Washington is an exaggeration. Their claims cannot be substantiated as Iran stands by its conviction of not developing a nuclear weapon. However, in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the deal and Trump’s re-imposed sanctions, Iran began righteously breaching nuclear restrictions dramatically by rebuilding and refining enriched uranium stocks. It also installed advanced centrifuges to speed up production, and limited access to the U.N. nuclear inspectors as it did during the deal. The U.S fears that delays in talks will result in Iran’s advancement of its atomic expertise and give it the potential to develop nuclear weapons technology. Whether the U.S. accepts Iran’s position against nuclear weapons, Israel’s cry of alarm motivates it to pursue one-sided terms in the negotiations. Israel knows that Iran is not truly a nuclear threat but pursues its efforts to influence U.S. policy towards Iran. The Occupying Regime knows that Iran has the potential to respond to any military aggression and that it would lose the war. So, it plays the role of the small, helpless victim in the Middle East in need of U.S. intervention to force Iran to comply or face possible war with its puppet government, the U.S. Israel has been waging a covert war with Iran for many years, with almost no response from Iran. It has assassinated Iranian nuclear scientists dating back to 2010. The most recent was the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, there have been cyber-attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and a Persian Gulf port along with the disruption of Iran’s gas stations.
So as the Biden administrations seeks to push for a diplomatic solution, its Zionist ally says it is preparing for war with Iran. The Israeli chief of staff, Lt. General Aviv confirmed that Israeli forces were reinforcing operational plans for an Iranian nuclear military threat. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force commander, Amir Ali Hajizadeh said that if Israel starts a conflict, the Islamic Republic will be the one to end it. All of the Israeli rhetoric is designed to position the U.S. in a defensive position in case Iran decides to retaliate to an Israeli offensive. The U.S. fears that if an agreement is not reached soon, the threat of war could escalate. It does not trust Israel to defend the diplomatic solution and knows that if Israel retaliates, it will most likely result in war. It is evident that the U.S. fears displeasing Israel as its regional ally and will attempt to appease its Zionist puppet master. For many years the U.S. presidents, Congress and the Senate are under the control of the Zionist regime and its foreign agents in the U.S., the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
U.S. pro-Israel groups were divided on the JCPOA. AIPAC opposed the agreement and formed a new group called, Citizens for a Nuclear Free Iran, to run a television advertising campaign against it. The JCPOA was the result of many years of international efforts. It was a foreign policy priority and goal of the Obama administration. Obama urged Congress to support the agreement and stated that if any were opposed to it, they should provide a suitable alternative to the deal. He reminded them that the only two choices would be diplomacy or war. He emphasized the need for diplomacy to achieve political objectives as war could not be justified without first trying a diplomatic approach. Obama ended by reminding Congress that all the opponents of the agreement were also the same war hawks that led to war in Iraq. He said if Congress did not choose wisely, they would be harshly judged by future generations.
The national Iranian American Council (NIAC) and the Iranian American Bar Association also welcomed the JCPOA. The NAIC released a statement: “Our negotiators have done their job to win a strong nuclear deal that prevents the development of an Iranian nuclear weapon, avoiding a catastrophic war. If Congress rejects this deal with Iran, there will not be a better one and Congress will be left owning an unnecessary war”.
The JCPOA was viewed as one of its kind and in many respects unique. The 159-page document was the first of its kind in the history of non-proliferation as it was the first time the United Nations Security Council recognized a nuclear enrichment program of a developing county.
The agreement was signed by several countries within the framework of a resolution: (United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231). For the first time in its history, the United Nations abolished resolutions against a country. Iran was the first to have the UN abolish 6 UN resolution against it. They were Resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835, 1929, without having been implemented. Sanctions against Iran were lifted for the first time in history. This was the only time in the history of international law that a country subject to Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter managed to end its case through diplomacy. All other cases have ended with full implementation of the Security Council’s decisions by the country, by war or regime changes.
In the entire history of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran is the only country that has voluntarily agreed to such restrictions on its nuclear activities. This is significant as it is testimony of Iran’s true position of not desiring to develop nuclear weapons. It has always been the position of the Islamic Republic to avoid weapons of mass destruction as it goes against its Islamic beliefs. Iran insists that its uranium enrichment is for its civilian nuclear program, and not for developing a bomb. Tehran denies it seeks to develop nuclear weapons but says it is prepared to defend its atomic program.
The European members of the JCPOA expressed concerns over Iran’s production of uranium metal saying Iran has no civilian need for the program. They claimed it was for the development of a nuclear weapon. Biden is eager to rejoin the agreement and months of talks in Vienna with delegations from Iran and the U.S. The talks officially ended in June with the election of Dr. Ebrahim Raisi as president. Many in the west fear that if agreement is not renewed by 2022, it will not be feasible as Iran will use the time to advance its nuclear expertise and use its progress as a tool to make more concessions. Iran’s leverage has changed significantly. It can and will be in position to make just demands at the nuclear talks. The U.S. biggest obstacle to a peaceful resolution is the Zionist regime. Israel is pushing the U.S. for a tougher policy if Iran does not end its nuclear advancements, saying war with Tehran will follow. The alliance between Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Israel has resulted in interference in U.S. politics. This is a result of Democrats in Washington with powerful incentives to move away from an oil-based economy. America has fallen victim to Saudi Arabia’s purposeful lack of production raising gasoline prices significantly in the U.S. Regional political realignments have resulted in Middle East key leaders to favor the Republican leadership in America.
Saudi Arabia is withholding oil production because Biden will not meet with Mohammed bin Salman after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Therefore, Saudi crown prince is taking revenge on Biden and his party by driving up energy prices and fueling global inflation. The politics of oil, the economy and foreign policy resulted in a major arms sale to Saudi Arabia for its devastating war in Yemen. The arms sale highlights Biden’s dilemma with Saudi Arabia. It is a display of Saudi arrogance that demands submission without dissent from any Democrats. Strategically, Iran could learn from the Saudis. When the time is right, America always succumbs to pressure and gives in.
In August 2021 requested that OPEC again increase output as prices surged after the pandemic eased and the economy reopened. This time the MBS refused. It had been denied an audience with Biden and angry over the U.S. pullback from the war in Yemen. Biden ordered to end American support for Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which was seen as a devastating blow. A Saudi national in Washington made it clear that if Biden wanted any concessions from Saudi Arabia, he knew who to call. Iran could well learn a lesson of how the Saudis deal with America’s lack of moral compass and wavering promises.
So far, this has only held true for certain Middle East nations, but Iran has now risen to its pivotal moment and has all the political tools to negotiate powerfully, without concessions and demand all that it deserves politically, legally, and morally. Iran must not and will not bend to the U.S. and its Western allies. Iran is the hegemon in the region and is in position to dominate the negotiations and show its true power. The significant difference between Iran and the U.S. is not political or ideological. It is a rift in morality and values. The U.S. lacks the moral compass necessary to perceive truth, trust, and justice. Its historical record speaks for itself. This is reflected in the long-standing U.S. tradition of treating its murder of innocent civilians as innocent mistakes.
This is a cycle that went into high gear under Obama while Biden was vice president and continued under the Trump presidency. It is now rampant in the Biden presidency. The Biden administration has pursued the persecution of whistleblowers who exposed this system of killing innocent victims. One example is that of Daniel Hale, a military veteran who exposed such practices in the U.S. drone program. Hale is serving four years in prison for “The Drone Papers” that exposed drone killings of innocent victims were massive, nine out of ten were innocent civilians. In Afghanistan, Biden’s recent drone strike, ten out of ten were innocent/was indicted under the Espionage Act during Trump’s presidency, and under Biden, the Justice Department has persecuted him with a vengeance. Hale was transferred to the “Communications Management Unit” where his ability to communicate with the outside world id severely limited. He suffers extreme periods of isolation as CMUs are labeled “terrorist units.” Biden has made it clear that he will uphold the tradition of punishing the whistleblowers and exonerating the killers.
The August drone strike in Iraq that killed 9,000 to 11000 civilians in the yearlong battle for Mosul. During the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the U.S. conducted a drone strike that killed ten civilians in Kabul, of whom seven of them were children. They were wrongfully killed, but justice has not been served. In Mosul Iraq a bomb hit the house of Rua Moataz Khadar that killed her 4-year-old son, Ibrahim Ahmed Yahya.
The U.S. has acknowledged that its drone strike killed ten innocent civilians, but they call it a ‘tragic mistake.’ They have not compensated any of the victim’s families. The Afghanistan dilemma has inspired some to address the injustices of wars.
The day that the U.S. left Afghanistan, the only member of Congress to vote against the invasion in 2001 called upon others to reevaluate the nation’s spending priorities. Instead, Biden proposed a $740 billion budget for the Pentagon. This has been the custom over the years. As one war fades away, another threat seems to rise at the right time. This time the U.S. sees China as its biggest threat. Representative Sara Jacobs declared that if the U.S wants to be competitive with China, then resources should be allocated for education, diplomacy, infrastructure, and public health, not one more F-35 the Pentagon does not need. She garnished her argument from an idea from Dr. Martin Luther king, Jr who warned that a nation who continually spends more money on military defense than on social programs is facing spiritual death.
America against the world reflects a military-centric foreign policy that is destined to fail. The argument is clear. A lesson can be learned from the so-called war on terror. It has cost trillions of dollars, more than 7,000 U.S. soldiers’ lives and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi and Afghan civilians. This premise of a military-centric policy is an utter failure, even before Kabul. Ordinary Iranian people who are suffering from the unjust severe sanctions of the American regime against themselves always criticize the US and Trump administration who withdrew shamefully and disgracefully from the peaceful and rational Iran nuclear deal. In fact, the U.S. action went against all principles of international law and morality when it re-imposed inhumane sanctions against the Iranians.
Iran is now seeking assurances that there will not be a repetition of unilateral U.S. withdrawals in the future. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s ambassador at the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, called Iran’s demand logical and justifiable. Biden had previously refused to provide such assurance to Iran. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Tehran was ready to negotiate a good agreement, yet Western diplomats responded that a good agreement means Iran must be flexible. The definition of ‘flexible’ implies vulnerability, weakness, and Iran’s willingness to accept deal American offers. The U.S. wants to test Iran’s convictions and steadfastness to stand by their demands. The U.S. wants Iran to believe that if Iran insists on maximalist demands, Iran will not get what it seeks. Iran’s demands are reasonable and just.
Iran demands all Trump-era sanctions be removed in a verifiable manner. Yet Washington insists on keeping in place sanctions imposed under terrorism and human rights measures. Iran seeks guarantees that no future U.S administration will renege on the agreement again. However, Biden will not promise this as he claims the nuclear deal is not a legally binding treaty. Under the U.S. Constitution, a treaty requires the consent of two thirds of the Senate which comprises of 100 members. With a 50/50 split in the Senate, Biden cannot meet that threshold. Another of Iran’s demands is that the Guards be removed from terrorist list. Progress can only be accomplished by lifting all the cruel and illegal sanctions as Iran was always in compliance by remaining in the deal. Let’s not forget that America left the deal.
Despite U.S. sanctions, China continues to provide financial help to Iran by importing supplies of Iranian oil at about half a million barrels per day for the past three months. Iran will continue exporting oil which is a vital source of revenue for the country. On various occasions, the U.S. has intercepted vessels carrying Iranian oil. Iran’s state-owned Press TV said the Islamic revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) has accused the US of trying to steal Iranian oil and has successfully defeated those efforts. The IRGC stopped an attempt by the US to take a giant Iranian oil tanker and had restored it to Iranian waters. Iran reported that units of the (IRGC) responded to an incident in the Gulf of Oman when American forces tried to seize a Vietnamese oil tanker. Actual footage shows Iranian military speedboats blocking the path of the US warships as the Iranian IRGC forces reach the tanker by helicopter.
The US blames Iran for the deadly drone attack on the Israeli MV Mercer Street tanker off the coast of Oman. Israeli Prime minister claims that they have intelligence to prove Iran was behind the attack. However, he did not provide any evidence. Iran has denied responsibility for the attack. The US imposed further sanctions due to this incident. On the list are IRGC Brigadier General Abdollah Mehrabi and Oje Parvaz Mado Nafar Company that supposedly sells the engines to the IRGC. Kimia Part Sivan Company (KIPAS) also sanctioned as the provider of technical assistance for drone flights. Also named in the sanctions is Mohammad Ebrahim Zargar Tehrani for helping KIPAS secure UAV components from entities outside Iran. Up until now, none of those accusations were proven. Iran has not responded to the US actions but questions the reasoning behind the sanctions so soon after Iran said it will return to the talks in Vienna. Nuclear negotiations will resume on November 29, 2021.
Iran stands by its commitment to move forward with its development of nuclear technology if the U.S fails to lift sanctions and the talks fail to bring a new agreement that is just and equitable. U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken emphasized the need to check the pace of Iran’s nuclear expansions to eliminate the possibility that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon soon. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed in that Iran had bolstered its uranium enrichment levels above the 3.67% allowed in the 2015 deal. Whereas Iran has abandoned its commitments to the 2015 JCPOA, it has doubled its quantity of enriched uranium in less than a month. Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman for the Atomic Energy of Iran (AEOI), told IRNA that Iran has more than 210 kilograms of 20% enriched uranium and 25 kilos at 60% bringing Iran’s productivity into the ranks of countries with nuclear arms. Iran’s nuclear facilities are up and running according to an unnamed official. Iran can live with or without the deal. The ball is in in their court now. Iran has the right to set the time and the new standards to a new agreement for the talks to resume.
A photo released on November 5, 2019, by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran shows centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran, where the country has been enriching uranium to 60% purity, close to that required for weapons development. ATOMIC ENERGY ORGANIZATION OF IRAN/AP
Russia and China do not support the coercive measures and pressure against Iran. They hope to see Iran seek additional long-term concessions from the west for any future nuclear agreement. Iran’s strategic location in the region demands consideration. Iran has the greatest frontage on both the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. It borders not just the Middle East and Mesopotamia but Central Asia. With great influence into Central Asia and the Mediterranean, Iran has built roads and pipelines into the Central Asian countries establishing its regional power. Iran dominates the Caspian and has over 1400 miles of seaboard in the Persian Gulf. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the next largest country only has 700 miles.
Iran is the dominant power in Iraq and Beirut Lebanon with the presence of Hezbollah. Assad’s triumph in the Syrian war provides Iran with tremendous influence in Syria also. Iran remains the dominant country in the region with or without nuclear weapons. Iran’s geographical location and conventional capabilities make it a force to be dealt with and a serious problem for Israel and its allies. The occupying regime is the only country truly afraid of Iran’s potential to defend itself against any aggression. Iran’s position in the Middle East is a threat to Israel therefore, it continues to pressure America to agree to take military action if the nuclear deal is not renewed. Israel knows that if provoked, The MIGHTY ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN will retaliate with conventional weapons which will result in the destruction of the Zionist regime.
Will the voice of reason and logic prevail this time? Will the West finally act on its own accord instead of its Zionist puppet masters? Iran is ready to negotiate honestly and justly. The U.S. must meet the standards of integrity, truth, and justice to succeed in renewing the accord with Iran. The Islamic Republic of Iran will demand its full rights without compromise this time. Iran has proven its commitment by remaining in the deal that the U.S. severed only to impose cruel sanctions as a show of power. Iran has risen above the designs of Western Imperialism and will continue to stand as the formative hegemon it is in the Middle East.
Imam Khamenei: “West can't be trusted proven in Mr. Rouhani's administration”
In a speech delivered on July 28, 2021, Grand Ayatollah Imam Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in the last meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and cabinet members, stated that:
The Americans stuck to their hostile position in an obstinate matter, and they did not take a step forward. On paper and in words, they say that they will remove the sanctions, but they have not removed and are not going to remove them. The Americans have laid down a condition: they say that if we wish sanctions to be removed, we should include a clause in the agreement which signifies that we are willing to negotiate over certain matters in the future. They say that if we do not accept this clause, we will not have an agreement in the present time.
What is this clause? This clause is a pretext for future interferences. The clause is about the JCPOA itself and about various other matters such as missiles and regional issues. If later, we say that we are not going to negotiate over these matters because the policies of the country and our parliament do not allow us to do so, they will say that there is no deal because we have allegedly violated it. These are their methods and their policies. They are behaving in a completely unfair and malicious manner, and they have no scruples about breaking their promises in any way. They violated the agreement once without paying any price and in the present time too, when they are told to promise and to guarantee that they will not violate it at another time, they respond that they cannot give such a guarantee. They are saying this explicitly to our friends and to our diplomats. They say that they will not give any guarantee about possible violations. They are like this.
The question that comes to mind in this respect is why the Leader of the Iranian Revolution has taken such a stance toward America’s new government that is run by Democrats, and which has supported returning to the JCPOA. Why is the Leader not ready to return to commitments under the JCPOA before complete removal of all US sanctions in action? The answer to this question lies in the history of relations between Iran and the US.
Since the 1940s and following US involvement in World War II, which led this country to quit its isolationist policies, the governments of both the Republicans and the Democrats have implemented a similar policy toward Iran. This policy has been based on their attempts to colonize Iran, prevent the Iranian people from achieving independence and freedom, oppose the formation of a democratic, religious government during the Pahlavi regime and attempts to weaken and topple the Islamic Republic after the victory of the Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khomeini (r). This policy was pursued during the Pahlavi regime in the following ways:
Widespread presence of American military advisors in Iran: Following the agreement between Iran and America on November 4, 1943, the number of American advisory boards present in Iran increased. These advisory boards worked in the fields of financial, military, health, agriculture, and oil, and they gradually enjoyed exemption from taxes and the privilege of capitulation. The presence of American advisory boards in Iran led to the increased economic and political influence of America in Iran to such an extent that trade between Iran and the US accounted for more than 25% of Iran’s foreign trade in 1945. In this way, America targeted Iran’s economic, political and cultural security using the scheme of sending advisors to Iran. This trend leading a high level of dependence was reinforced in the 1960s and 1970s through the widespread purchase of American weapons, food, luxury goods, vulgar movies, etc.
Attempts to destabilize Iran via sectarianism: Another of America’s goals was to weaken the Shi’a religion in Iran. They knew that the Shi’a religion and its Islamic foundations led by Islamic scholars was a great obstacle to America. Therefore, they tried to weaken its foundations using various measures. From the time of Fath-Ali Shah, Americans sent missionaries to Iran to preach Protestant Christianity. This continued throughout the Qajar dynasty and during the Pahlavi period by establishing colleges and cultural centers dependent on the American embassy and consulate in Iran. Interestingly, in an essay published in 2015, the Wall Street Journal proposed some strategies for changing the Iranian regime. One of these strategies was to make the Iranian people Christian because they believed that the growth of Protestant Christianity in Iran had not been worked on very much. In this essay, it was asserted that it can be expected that Christian officials will be able to find their way into Iranian political and security systems within a decade and support the rights of Iranian Christians.
Opposition to nationalization of the Iranian Oil Industry by way of staging the 28th of Mordad coup d'état: Nationalization of the Iranian Oil Industry in 1951 led to its oil revenues - the most important source of revenue for the country – becoming accessible to Iranians. After this took place, the American and British governments conspired to arrange and carry out a coup d’état against the Iranian government in 1953. Following the coup d’état, America increased its interference in Iran’s affairs to such an extent that by 1979 AD (1357 AHS), America played a leading role in the development of the Pahlavi regime’s policies.
Plundering Iran’s oil revenues until 1979: Starting from 1953 and up until 1979, the exploration, extraction and sale of Iran’s oil was under the control of a consortium of seven companies, five of which were American. They continued to plunder Iran’s oil resources up until the time of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. Some of the measures taken by America for colonizing and dominating Iran and preventing its independence and freedom, included: the formation of SAVAK (Organization of National Security and Information), suppressing and torturing freedom-seekers in Iran, carrying out espionage against the Eastern Bloc countries, approving the capitulation law to prevent American citizens from having to stand trial in Iran after committing crimes and violations, implementation of economic reforms or the so-called White Revolution with the purpose of destroying local agriculture, making Iran dependent on the imports of food products from America and destroying Iran’s food security, and refusing to transfer advanced technology to Iran in order to make it dependent on assembling inferior Western products.
America’s continued animosity and lack of commitment to Iran after the Islamic Revolution such as violation of America’s commitments in the Algiers Accords: After the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, despite all the military, intelligence, economic and political support provided by the Democrat government of Jimmy Carter for the Shah of Iran, America’s embassy in Iran turned into a center of espionage against Iran. It was a center for coordinating activities aimed at destabilizing the country, particularly in central provinces to weaken Iran. On the other hand, Shah took refuge in America and the probability of planning a coup d’état by the American government with the cooperation of Shah was discussed over different media. In reaction to these changes, a number of university students who supported the Islamic Revolution took over the American embassy in Iran and took its employees hostage. The documents found in this embassy showed that the previous suppositions about the fact that the American embassy had turned into a center for espionage and subversion against the Islamic Republic were true. In response, America launched a military attack against Iran in April 1980. This attack was doomed to failure following a sandstorm in the Tabas Desert. A number of their military forces were killed, and their equipment and helicopters were captured by Iran.
America also supported the Nojeh coup d’état, which was a plan to overthrow the Islamic Republic in July 1980, and they supported Iraq’s military attack on Iran in September 1980. Eventually, American hostages were set free after 444 days through the mediation of Algeria and following negotiations between Iran and America. Iran fulfilled all its commitments and set the hostages free immediately, but America violated all its commitments. These commitments included not interfering either directly or indirectly in Iran’s affairs, removing trade sanctions, release of Iranian assets in America that were frozen by the US president of the time after the American embassy staff were taken hostage, and the cancellation of all debts and claims of the governments, companies, and US citizens against Iran. However, America refused to cooperate with Iran in returning the assets of the Shah and his relatives to Iran under the pretext of not knowing the amount of the assets held by the former Shah and his relatives.
Wide range of trade sanctions against Iran: Different American governments have imposed various sanctions on Iran since the 1980s. Reagan’s government prohibited importing Iranian goods to America and selling high tech products to Iran, and it tried to make these sanctions international. Clinton’s government imposed heavy sanctions since the mid-1990s, prohibiting the purchase of Iran’s oil and any commercial or monetary transactions with Iran. They also prohibited credit transfer, currency exchange and the transfer of Iranian assets, while punishing American companies or companies with American shares for investing more than 40 million dollars in Iran’s oil and gas industry. They also imposed a ban on exporting goods and technology to Iran that would help in strengthening its oil and gas industries. In subsequent years, Clinton’s government, the Congress and the Senate extended the sanctions and bans to commercial activities as well.
Starting a soft war against the Islamic Republic of Iran: Since the late 1990s with the advent of the internet and satellite TV, the American government launched numerous radio and TV channels and websites in the Persian language to wage a media campaign against the Islamic Republic and destroy its reputation. Their activities focused on trying to show that Islam conflicts with freedom, development, and democracy, reinforcing secularism, suggesting conflict exists between scientific development and religion and morality, denying the achievements of the Islamic Republic, undermining the national security and foundations of unity in the country, disrupting the system’s integrity and implanting the idea that disagreement and divisions exist in the administration of the country. During the last two decades, their propaganda wars on Iran have centered on trying to show that Iran violates human rights, supports terrorism and is attempting to build nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction. It should be noted that this media has always remained silent about the actions of the real supporters of terrorism, their violation of human rights and the weapons of mass destruction of the Zionist regime, Saudi Arabia and their likes.
Violation of the Treaty of Saadabad: In October 2003, the Foreign Ministers of three European countries including England, France and Germany entered Tehran to present America’s demands to Iran and ask them to stop nuclear enrichment and completely suspend Iran’s nuclear activities. Iran eventually accepted these requests on a voluntary basis for a short period of time for the purpose of building trust and in exchange for receiving certain economic benefits and incentives from the western countries. Iran also agreed to implement the Additional Protocol to the NPT. But in contradiction with the commitments made by the three western countries, no economic benefits were given to Iran, while a large part of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear industry was unilaterally suspended. As a result, with the change of government in Iran, suspension of uranium enrichment was reversed, opening the route to continued development of the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear activities. In response, Barack Obama’s Democrat government, along with the European Union, imposed new, severe economic and financial sanctions on Iran. They also imposed an unprecedented sanction on the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Three resolutions were passed against the Islamic Republic under pressure from the US and its European allies in the Security Council of the United Nations.
Violation of the JCPOA: Finally in October 2015, the JCPOA agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) on Iran’s nuclear program was signed after several years of negotiations between Iran, China, Russia, France, Germany, England, and America. Based on this agreement, Iran was committed to dispose of a large portion of its enriched uranium reserves, reduce the number of its centrifuges by two thirds for 15 years, stop uranium enrichment beyond 3.67 and to not build a new enrichment facility or heavy-water reactor. Since that time, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency have been continuously examining and supervising the execution of the provisions of the JCPOA and have had regular access to all Iranian nuclear facilities.
From the other side, the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, the European Union and America were to be removed and economic incentives were to be offered to Iran. However, violation of the JCPOA began from the very first day by the Democrat government in America led by Obama and peaked during the Republican government led by Trump resulting in America’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal and the imposition of more severe sanctions on Iran. Some of their violations of the JCPOA included: extension of the Iran Sanctions Act (known as ISA) by the US Congress, creating travel limitations for the citizens of the countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program who wished to travel to the United States if they travelled to Iran, America’s continued soft war and mass media war on Iran, creating a negative atmosphere against the Islamic Republic in the UN Security Council, not effectively removing the sanctions imposed on Iran’s nuclear industry, America’s opposition to other countries’ normalization of trade ties with Iran by directly and indirectly threatening to reduce its economic and commercial cooperation with them, preventing the issue of sales licenses for selling airliners or renting airliners to Iran, and imposing cumbersome regulations to prevent Iranian Central Bank’s access to its financial resources abroad. Trump’s government imposed numerous sanctions against Iran to the extent that he banned medicines, vaccines and medical equipment being sent to Iran, even under the adverse conditions that had come about due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“Colonial powers try to persuade nations into ignoring their talents”
In another speech delivered on February 17, 2021, by Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, He emphasized that “Concerning the JCPOA, only actions matter not empty words and promises”. The reason why the enemies show hostility towards the Islamic government.
These were some points about the 29th of Bahman of 1356 and about the significance and greatness of that event. We should never forget it. Now, what lesson should we learn from that event? This is my main discussion. What is the lesson that we should learn from it today?
Well, from the beginning, the Islamic Revolution faced the enmity of superpowers, and a certain front came into being. When I say, “superpowers”, I mean the Soviet Union of those days as well as the US. They had disagreements with one another over hundreds of matters, but they had an agreement with one another over the issue of confronting the Islamic Republic, the Islamic Revolution and the system established by Imam. The same was true of European powers. The same was true of their cohorts -regional reactionaries and others. A front against the Islamic Revolution came into being. Well, what was the reason for their enmity? This is a point that we should never forget.
The only reason for their enmity was that the Islamic government had rejected the norms established by the system of domination. The system of domination war ruling over the world. What does the system of domination mean? It means the division of the world into two parts: the oppressor and the oppressed. The oppressor should be dominant. Its politics, its culture and its economy should be dominant. And the oppressed should give in to the oppressor. Countries in the world were thus divided into oppressor and oppressed countries. That was a completely established norm in the world. They had divided the whole world like that.
One part of the world was in the hands of the Americans. One part was in the hands of the Soviet Union of those days and another part was in the hands of second-tier powers which were following their lead. That was the condition of the world, but the Islamic Republic, the Islamic government and the Islamic Revolution rejected this system. Well, that was the vein that gave life to arrogance. The norms established by the system of domination were like a vein that gave life to arrogance. The life of arrogance depended on that, but the Islamic Republic and the Islamic government rejected that and therefore, superpowers stood against it.
Of course, they always fabricated some excuses to justify their enmity. One day, they brought up the issue of human rights, one day, they painted a dark picture of religion’s unrestrained domination, and they did so in various ways, one day, they brought up the issue of the nuclear issue and another day, they brought up the issue of missiles and Iran’s regional presence. These are all excuses. The essence of the issue is that the Islamic government is not willing to be a partner to the global system of domination and it does not wish to cooperate with it in the oppressor-oppressed division of the world. The Islamic government is standing up against oppression and hegemony.
Attitude of the US and Europe in the JCPOA: "Brazenness, breaking promises and inaction"
Furthermore, he stated that the diplomacy of the country should not be overshadowed by the nuclear issue. He stressed that the Americans have passed all limits in impudence and brazenness regarding the nuclear negotiations. He added, “It was they who withdrew from the JCPOA, but they speak as if it was Iran who withdrew from it. It was they who mocked the negotiations. The Europeans acted in the same way.”
Imam Khamenei reiterated that the current US administration is no different from the previous Administration and that the new Administration makes the same demands that the Trump Administration did. February 17, 2021. Imam Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, stated in this meeting that the Islamic Republic has heard many words and promises from the other side about the JCPOA. He emphasized that this time only actions matter, and if the Islamic Republic sees actions from Europe and the US, it will act too.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution stated, “We have already spoken about the Islamic Republic’s policy on the JCPOA. Today, I only wish to say that we have heard many good words and promises, but in practice, they have not been honored. On the contrary, they have acted against those promises. There is no use in talking. There is no use in giving promises. This time, only actions matter. If we see action on the part of the other side, we will take action too.”
Imam Khamenei added, “This time, the Islamic Republic will not be convinced with hearing such and such words and promises. Things will not be like the past.”
Conclusion:
The different governments in the United States, with whatever political party orientation they had, have spared no attempts to undermine the independence and freedom of Iran and to violate its sovereignty over the last 80 years. The goal of these measures has been to unilaterally serve the interests of the United States by turning Iran into a weak country that is dependent on the US for them to be able to plunder Iranian resources and assets. For this reason, America has unilaterally violated all its commitments and obligations in all the agreements it has signed with Iran and has left behind a record of its greed and perfidiousness. Based on what has been said here, the logic behind the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s statement, “The side with the right to set conditions for the continuation of the JCPOA is Iran,” becomes clear.
Iran's condition for returning to JCPOA commitments: Removing all sanctions. Imam Khamenei stated that the side with the right to set conditions for the continuation of the JCPOA deal is Iran, and its irrevocable condition is that the United States must remove all sanctions, and not just on paper but in action. Imam Khamenei stated, “If they want Iran to return to its JCPOA commitments, the US should remove all sanctions in action. After they have done this, we will check if the sanctions have truly been removed. Once this is done, we will resume our JCPOA commitments.” The Leader of the Islamic Revolution emphasized, “On the issue of sanctions, first, no one in the Islamic Republic believes what those incompetent prattlers say – whether they are in European countries or in the US. Secondly, if we want to be reasonable, the US and the three European countries do not have the right to set terms and conditions because they have violated all their JCOPA commitments. They have not honored any of their commitments.” reasonable, the US and the three European countries do not have the right to set terms and conditions because they have violated all of their JCOPA commitments. They have not honored any of their commitments.”
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