Lawmaker’s U-turn on JCPOA sparks speculation of policy shift in Tehran
In a surprising volte-face, Iranian lawmaker Mojtaba Zonnour, who once symbolically burned a copy of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal in parliament, has now expressed support for the accord, provided there is consensus on its revival.
Zonnour, previously known for his staunch opposition to the agreement, made these remarks just days after the parliament unanimously approved Masoud Pezeshkian’s cabinet. In his final defense, the new president revealed that the list of ministers had already been pre-approved by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Zonnur emphasized that the decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal, or JCPOA, is a collective one, involving various state bodies and officials. "Whether the nuclear deal moves forward or not is a supra-governmental decision," he said. "It's not up to one individual or one institution, but rather a collective decision involving bodies like the Supreme National Security Council and the heads of the three branches of government."
However, the decision about the revival of the nuclear deal has always been a collective one. This didn't stop Zonnour, who was the chairman of the parliament's Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy, from previously calling for the execution of then-President Hassan Rouhani during his term when the JCPOA was signed.
Zonnour also stated that he would support whatever decision the Islamic regime makes—whether it’s to continue negotiations, halt them, or revive the nuclear deal. This significant departure from his previous stance has raised eyebrows among observers, sparking speculation about the reasons behind his apparent change of heart.
The lawmaker's comments come amid increasing speculation about a potential shift in Iran's foreign policy. Some analysts suggest that Zonnour's reversal could signal a broader consensus within the Iranian establishment, leaning toward a more flexible approach to nuclear negotiations and possibly even toward the West.
In an unprecedented development earlier in the day, the chairman of Iran National Development Fund called on Pezeshkian to re-establish US consular services at the venue of former American embassy in Tehran.
"Now that all the pillars of the regime are supporting you and your government, please, if you see fit, implement a few tasks that have been left unfinished for many years. It might be better to do these before the honeymoon period ends," said Mehdi Ghazanfari, appointed by former hardline president Ebrahim Raisi.
While nothing is certain, it appears that hardliners may be aligning themselves with the broader consensus within the regime, especially after Pezeshkian confirmed publicly that Khamenei is behind the main decisions in his administration.
Amid swirling rumors of a shift in Iran's foreign policy, the world still holds its breath against the backdrop of a high-stakes diplomatic game to prevent any escalation in the Middle East.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday said he had spoken with his Israeli counterpart to discuss a range of issues in the region, including the ongoing exchanges of fire on the Israel-Lebanon border.
In a post on X, Austin said he also discussed the risk of escalation from Iran and Iran-backed groups in the call on Thursday and told Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant that the United States is well postured across the region.
The dialogue happened a few hours after US Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh emphasized on the US significant military buildup in the region, trying to portray it as a stark warning to Iran that any aggression would be met with unwavering force.
Houthi-affiliated media outlets reported Friday two US-British airstrikes on the Iran-backed group's positions west of Taiz governorate, southwest of Yemen.
Despite all this, Iran's new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in conversations with French and British counterparts, stressed Tehran’s right to retaliate against the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.
