Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 13
By Temkin Jafarov, Saeed Isayev - Trend:
Iranian parliament doesn't directly interfere with the nuclear talks, it contradicts with the country's Constitution, advisor to Iran Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani on international affairs, Hossein Sheikholeslam told Trend.
"The parliament fully supports the negotiating team of Iran, and works in close cooperation with them," the official said, speaking about the developments of Iran-P5+1 group nuclear talks.
The U.S. and its Western allies suspect Iran of developing a nuclear weapon - something that Iran denies.
The Islamic Republic has on numerous occasions stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, using nuclear energy for medical researches instead.
Iran managed to strike a nuclear agreement with the P5+1 group, according to which, the Islamic Republic has agreed to curb some of its nuclear activities for six months in return for sanctions relief.
Answering the question about possibility of new sanctions that the U.S. congress can put on Iran, Sheikholeslam said in that case Iran's parliament won't allow the Congress to put pressure on the talks.
On Jan. 12, Reuters reported citing U.S. president Barack Obama as saying that the U.S. and other nations would begin to give Iran "modest relief" on economic sanctions as long as Iran lives up to its end of an agreement.
In December, the White House released a statement which said Obama would veto a new Iran sanctions bill, if it's passed. The mentioned bill calls for "diplomatic, military and economic support" to Israel in case Tel Aviv decides to launch an attack against Iran's nuclear energy program.
Sheikholeslam noted that Iranian parliament has a trump card in case the U.S. issues new sanctions on Iran.
"The parliament of Iran has a plan to enrich uranium up to 60 percent, and until today, 218 members of the parliament have signed this document," he said. "If new sanctions on Iran are issues, the parliament will approve the document."
He went on to explain the difference with documents and agreements that the parliament in Iran signs.
"By the country's laws, if there's any law approved by the parliament, no one can veto it. While it is different in other countries," Sheikholeslam said.
"In many countries, a president can dismiss a parliament, but in Iran parliament always exists, and the president is not allowed to do anything in that regard," he added.
On Jan. 11, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told IRNA news agency that the Joint Plan of Action reached between Iran and P5+1 in Geneva on November 24 will be implemented on January 20.