Tehran Friday Prayers’ Leader:

West trying to deceive Iran with two-phased agreement

Rasa – Tehran’s Provisional Friday Prayers leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ahmad Khatami warned against the repercussions of striking a two-phased agreement with the western powers, saying the US-led West is trying to deceive Iran through the move.

News ID: 2123

Date: 13 February 2015 - 18:52

Addressing a large and fervent congregation of people on Tehran University campus on Friday, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said, “The P5+1 group, specially the US, intended to deceive the Iranian team of negotiators by trying to clinch a two-phased agreement instead of a single-phased deal.”

Ayatollah Khatami pointed to the recent statements of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei who said no deal is better than a bad deal, and said, “We thank God for having such a wise leader who foiled the enemies’ plots.”

On Sunday, the Supreme Leader underlined that Iran would never accept a bad agreement with the world powers, adding that the country is in favour of a single-phase comprehensive deal which would respect the Iranian nation’s inalienable rights and entail all details.

“I agree with an agreement if it can be struck, but I disagree with a bad agreement,” the Supreme Leader said in a meeting with the commanders and personnel of the Iranian Air Force and Air Defence in Tehran.

He pointed to the US officials’ remarks that “disagreement is better than a bad agreement,” and said, “We believe the same and we believe that not agreement is better than striking an agreement that would harm the national interests and pave the way for humiliating the great Iranian nation.”

The Leader further stressed his opposition to striking a deal over general issues and leaving the details for some other time in future, saying that a final agreement should include all the general principles and all the details together and should not leave anything for future.

The Supreme Leader reiterated that the Iranian nation will not tolerate bullying, excessive demands and illogical behaviour.

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the general points and technical details of any accord need to be agreed upon simultaneously as the US has already proved that it tries to escape its undertakings under the pretext of different interpretations.

“The contents of such a contract should be transparent, clear and not open to interpretation. The contents of the agreement should not allow the other side which is used to bargaining to seek excuses on different issues,” he added.

The 10th round of negotiations between Iran and the six world powers was held in Vienna from November 18 to 24, where the seven nations decided to extend the talks until July after they failed to strike an agreement.

The latest round of the nuclear talks between the two sides was held at the level of deputy foreign ministers in Geneva, Switzerland, on January 18.

The two sides decided to continue their talks in February.

Both Iran and the P5+1 negotiators have underlined that cutting a final deal before the July 10 deadline is possible.

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