RNA – In an interview with Rasa News Agency, Ayatollah Mahmoud Rajabi, a member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom, referred to the warning by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, regarding the wrong moves by the hegemonic powers in regards to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the reaction of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said, “If the enemies sense weakness, leniency and laxity in us and imagines that we can be appeased, they will certainly act in an excessive manner with us.”
The deputy chief of the Imam Khomeyni Education and Research Institute added, “We must stand with complete power and authority against our enemies, including the hegemonic powers of the world, and respond appropriately to their behaviour in such a way that the enemies regret their past actions and end their greed for hostile and similar acts.”
Ayatollah Rajabi explained that the hegemonic powers have accused Iran, despite their violations of the spirit and text of the JCPOA and stated, “There must be a timely response to these issues and they must not draw out this response in such a manner that its effects disappear.”
He added, “We must deal with the enemies in a tactful and resolute manner, that is, the authorities must be ready to take serious actions. If they don’t adhere, we also have to take steps to return to the situation before the JCPOA. Unfortunately, the authorities did not have the necessary precision in regard to the agreement.”
Ayatollah Rajabi said that decisive steps must be taken to let the enemies know that we are serious in regard to the violations of the JCPOA, noting, “If the word and message suffice, the enemies will feel that these violations do not endanger them and will continue their hostile actions.”
His Eminence said, “Therefore, the actions of the Iranian authorities must be serious, decisive, timely and proportionate to the violations of the JCPOA so that the enemies do not abuse this atmosphere.”
The JCPOA was inked between Iran and the P5+1 countries — namely the US, Russia, China, France, and Britain plus Germany — in July 2015 and took effect in January 2016.
US President Donald Trump, who had made no secret of opposing the nuclear agreement in his election campaign, has threatened to “tear up” the agreement, calling it “the worst deal ever negotiated.”
In September, the IAEA, however, once again confirmed that Iran has lived up to its commitments under the landmark nuclear agreement.
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