Iran News Round Up - February 13, 2018

President Hassan Rouhani stated, “If the JCPOA were implemented and [put into action] in full, Iran would have been ready to enter into talks about other important and complicated issues with others,” in a meeting with foreign ambassadors on February 11. Rouhani also warned the U.S. that withdrawing from the accord would be a grave strategic error. Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araghchi stated on February 8 that future talks on other issues depended on successful implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

• Artesh Commander Maj. Gen. Abdol Rahim Mousavi and Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) Deputy Coordinator IRGC Brig. Gen. Ali Abdollahi stated on February 11 that Iran will not negotiate on its ballistic missile program. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi predicted that EU attempts to alter terms of the JCPOA will not satisfy President Donald Trump. Trump has stated that the U.S. will withdraw from the JCPOA if the U.S. and the Europeans are unable to address the accord’s flaws. (President.ir) (Defa Press) (Defa Press) (Alef)

Parliament Deputy Speaker Massoud Pezeshkian said that Vali Asr Credit Cooperative in Robat Karim and Baharestan Counties in Tehran Province will need to repay depositors who have lost their savings up to $15,000. Defrauded investors have protested losing their life savings to corrupt, loosely-regulated credit cooperatives and financial and credit institutions. (IRIB) (Radio Farda) (E)

President Hassan Rouhani said that the people should settle disagreements on social, cultural, economic issues through public referendums, not “fights or slogans” during a speech on February 11 marking the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Article 59 of the Iranian Constitution permits the people to vote on “vital economic, political, social, and cultural issues” if two-thirds of the Parliament approves a request for a referendum. Rouhani stressed that the Constitution is Iran’s “touchstone” and that “many of the issues regarding freedoms and social relations are due to non-compliance with the Constitution.” Rouhani also called for political unity amongst principlists, reformists, and moderates in the coming year. Rouhani encouraged debate and differences of personal opinion regarding electoral candidates, and stressed that the results of elections must be respected as the people’s choice. (President.ir) (Kayhan) (E) (Donya-e Eqtesad)

Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati warned that Iran will rebuff any of French President Emmanuel Macron’s attempts to discuss Iran’s ballistic missile program during his forthcoming visit to Tehran. Velayati emphasized that Iran will continue to develop its missile program according to its defense needs. He also expressed disappointment that France is participating in a joint U.S.-EU working group to fix the nuclear deal’s flaws. (Alef)  

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Foreign Ministry Senior Advisor for Special Political Affairs Hossein Jaberi Ansari met separately with Yemeni al Houthi spokesperson Mohammad Abdul Salam in Tehran. Zarif emphasized the need for conflict resolution in Yemen through the implementation of his four-point peace plan during their meeting on February 10. The proposal recommends the establishment of a ceasefire, the provision of humanitarian assistance, intra-Yemeni dialogue, and the formation of an inclusive national unity government. Ansari and Abdul Salam also discussed conflict resolution in Yemen during their meeting on February 12. (Tasnim News Agency) (IRNA) (YJC)

Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Shamkhani and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahram Ghassemi both rejected reports that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) intercepted an Iranian drone in Israeli airspace on February 10. Shamkhani claimed that the Syrian Air Force destroyed an Israeli drone that violated Syria’s airspace. (Alef) (YJC) (Fars News Agency)

Mike Saidi demonstrates how the recent protests highlighted weaknesses in the readiness of Iranian security forces in a dataset using videos submitted by Iranian protesters. View the dataset here and the graphics here.

Marie Donovan argues that Iran’s hardliners are undermining the regime’s best chance at improving Iran’s economy in the long run in, “Iran’s Hardliners Can Leverage the Post-Protest Space.”