Iran News Round Up

A selection of the latest news stories and editorials published in Iranian news outlets, compiled by AEI Critical Threats Project Iran Analysts Mehrdad Moarefian and Marie Donovan. To receive this daily newsletter, please subscribe online

Key takeaway: Tehran and the P5+1 began drafting the text for the final nuclear agreement, while senior Iranian negotiator Abbas Araghchi stated that the U.S. and EU clarified the process of lifting sanctions.

The third day of deputy-level negotiations ended with a series of meetings between Iran and members of the P5+1 on April 24 in Vienna, Austria. Abbas Araghchi reiterated that the process of removing sanctions remained at the top of Iran’s agenda in the negotiations. Araghchi expressed his satisfaction with latest round of talks, stating: “The Americans and Europeans made good clarifications on the lifting of sanctions. The Legal and International Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister announced that both sides started drafting the text for a final nuclear agreement and that Iran and the P5+1 are close to resolving all issues. Araghchi’s statement highlights significant progress in the negotiations, however, a major impediment remains to be resolved, which is Iran’s refusal to grant international inspectors access to its military sites.

Nuclear negotiations are scheduled to resume on the sidelines of the NPT Review Conference in New York. The Iranian negotiating team, led by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will participate in the NPT session on April 27.

Nuclear Talks

• Third day of nuclear talks in Vienna. Iranian negotiators met with their British, French, and German counterparts on April 24 in the Austrian capital. Following today’s talks Iranian negotiators will fly back to Tehran, and then they will travel to New York with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to participate in the NPT Review Conference on April 27. (Tabnak)
  • Iran holds trilateral talks with China and Russia. Abbas Araghchi, the Legal and International Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister and Majid Takht Ravanchi, the American and European Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister, met with their Chinese and Russian counterparts today. (Fars News Agency)
     
• Araghchi: we started drafting the text for the final agreement. Abbas Araghchi stated, “[Iran’s] priority in this round of negotiations was the discussion of sanctions and clarifying the details of the agreement. We are currently busy working on writing the text of the agreement.” Regarding sanctions relief, the Legal and International Affairs Deputy to the Foreign Minister added: “The Americans and Europeans made good clarifications on the lifting of sanctions; we also had very useful discussion about the recent bill passed by America’s Congress [to review a nuclear deal with Iran].” Araghchi pointed to the challenges both sides faced in drafting the text in previous rounds of negotiations and stated:
  • “We had already done some drafting in the past, but it was stopped because we had no solutions to major issues. Now we have solutions for almost all issues…” (Mehr News) (Press TV)

Official Statements

• Rouhani calls for Islamic unity. President Hassan Rouhani addressed a gathering of intellectuals and Muslim scholars in Jakarta, Indonesia. Rouhani underlined moderation, logic, and rationality as the central tenets of Islam and urged “All Muslims should break their silence against terrorist groups, which have caused the greatest harm to Islam.” Rouhani discussed the ongoing regional crises and implored all Muslims to unite against “violence, extremism, and terror.” Rouhani added:
  • “Treat people in a way that will not distance them from Islam. Be easy on the people, do not crackdown.”
  • “Protecting people’s lives and security all over the world is a Muslim’s first priority… How can one tolerate and remain silent about the killing of innocent people in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Libya, or elsewhere in the world?”
  • “We Muslims value people’s lives as our religious duty; and thus, the killing of every innocent person, regardless of his religion or nationality is condemned in our viewpoint…  All Muslims are responsible for presenting the real Islam to the world.”
  • “Iran has a paid huge price for the development of science and technology. If they [the West] sanctioned us it is because of this knowledge, if the West imposed sanctions against us it is because of our scientific advancements… They [the West] wanted to dominate and control technology. They are angry that their monopoly over technology has been broken… We must break the dominance; science [and knowledge] is for all.”
  • “We recognize growth and development in science and technology as a human right, including the right of Muslims. In this field we should work hand-in-hand… to help each other.”  (President.ir)
     
• Sedeghi: military site inspections an “outright humiliation.” Interim Tehran Friday Prayer Leader Ayatollah Kazem Sedeghi stated, “…I am of the view that our military and security bases should be considered as a red line by our country’s nuclear team.” Sadeghi denounced such inspections as “outright humiliation” and “unlawful and contrary to the nation’s 36-year saga, which [inspections] IRGC Deputy Commander Salami said were a blatant violation.” (Tasnim News)
   
• Larijani: West must admit its deception on the nuclear issue. Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani stated, “It must be that the Westerners admit they have made mistakes and deception on the nuclear issue…” Larijani also stated, “In that period [of the last ten years], they [the Westerners] thought they could push Iran to give up its nuclear knowledge through military presence in the region and creating fear.” Larijani also said, “We support oppressed nations, and it is our honor to spiritually support Palestine and Egypt.” (IRNA)

Regional Developments and Diplomacy

• Tehran summons Saudi charge d'affaires. The Foreign Ministry summoned the senior diplomat to express Tehran’s grievance over Riyadh’s decision to block an Iranian plane carrying humanitarian aid supplies from entering Yemen’s airspace. Iran claims that it had it received approval from Oman to use its airspace in addition to coordinating with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent states. (YJC)
   
• Defense Minister Dehghan holds talks with Lebanon, Pakistan, and Turkey. IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan met with his Lebanese, Pakistani, and Turkish counterparts on April 24 in Istanbul, Turkey. The trilateral talks were focused on regional and international developments. Defense Minister Dehghan promoted increased bilateral relations and defense cooperation with each country. (Tabnak)

Military and Security

• Dehghan: we are building missile defense systems similar to the S-300s. Defense Minister IRGC Brig. Gen. Hossein Dehghan stated, “With the efforts of Iranian experts, we are building a collection like the s-300 missile air defense [systems], and it is expected that the weapon will be tested by the end of this year.” Dehghan highlighted that “we have repeatedly called for the execution of the contract [Russia’s sale of s-300s to Iran]…Tehran is ready to receive the collection [of s-300s] based on existing contracts.” (Tasnim News Agency)