Karimi Ghoddousi, a staunch opponent of JCPOA, the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, told IRGC-affiliated news agency Fars on Wednesday afternoon that during his latest meeting with members of Majles National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, minister of foreign affairs has confessed he made a big mistake in trusting the Americans. The gist of Zarifs remarks, quoted by Javad Karimi Ghoddousi and published by Fars News Agency, are as follows:
- I admit that I made a mistake.
- I trusted US Secretary of State John Kerry.
- If I had followed my own strategy, I would not have faced problems now.
- I take responsibility for my mistakes.
- Our remarks were based on John Kerrys statements and promises.
- After the recent violation [of JCPOA by US Congress], I told John Kerry, who had requested negotiations in Italy: What you have done makes it impossible for me and you to be in one city.
- John Kerry and US Secretary of Treasury had told us that if DAmato [Iran Sanctions Act] went to the Senate, they had ways to block it.
Karimi Ghoddousis disclosure of Zarifs remarks faced strong reaction from supporters of the JCPOA in both the government and the parliament. Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Bahram Ghassemi rejected Ghoddousis remarks, calling his quotes incorrect, altered, and taken out of context. Karimi Ghoddousi was not even present in Zarifs meeting with members of the National Security Committee Ghassemi said, a claim that was rejected by Javad Karimi Ghoddousi. The ministrys speaker also criticized politicization of such affairs, calling it against national interests and national security.
A number of Reformist members of the parliament also denied Karimi Ghoddousis remarks. Alireza Rahimi, representative from Tehran and one of the few Reformist members of the national security committee, called Karimi Ghoddousis report unethical, irresponsible, and absolutely incorrect. Rahimi also noted that Zarifs session with the national security committee was confidential and any report on its proceedings should have been released only by the committees speaker. Female MP Fatemeh Saeidi also denied Javad Karimi Ghoddousis comments, saying that attribution of false remarks to Irans foreign minister amidst the complicated circumstances of the Middle East is not parts of MPs duties. Are interests of [your] political faction so important that you are sacrificing interests of the great Iranian nation? she asked Karimi Ghoddousi.
But not everyone doubts Ghoddousis remarks. Hossein-Ali Haji-Deligani, another ultraconservative MP, welcomed Zarifs confessions in the meeting, saying it was the last nail on JCPOAs coffin. All those who have signed the JCPOA and implemented it inside the country, including the president himself, should be held accountable Haji-Delgani said.
This is not the first time Javad Karimi Ghoddousi, spearheads a wave of pressure against Javad Zarif. Calling JCPOA a golden calf, Ghoddousi has been an ardent critic of the nuclear talks Hassan Rouhani and Javad Zarif staged three years ago. Ghoddousis self-endorsed reports from confidential talks have made controversies before, including one in early 2014 where he claimed Zarif and his team of nuclear negotiators have been criticized by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei for half-hearted persistence on Irans rights during nuclear talks.
