Iranian MP says domestic, foreign advocacy groups work against

Iran nuclear deal

Tehran, Iran, June 17

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
Iran and the US face advocacy groups at home and abroad that are trying to prevent a nuclear deal, Iranian MP Abdolreza Torabi told Trend June 17.

By making statements that heighten the other side's sensitivity, these groups are trying to diminish hopes that Iran 's nuclear program is peaceful, he said, referring to special interest groups in Iran.

The pro Israel lobby, on the other hand, is powerful and influential in the relations involved, the MP noted.

Torabi said that a new Iranian parliamentary move to oversee a prospective nuclear deal comes as a response to US congressmen who have tried to limit the US government's range of action in the talks.

Earlier in the day, Iranian lawmakers approved the priority of a plan to address a set of rules that would define how the Iranian government would act in the course of the nuclear talks and what privileges it would give or take.

The MP went on to say that regional powers are also influencing the talks. Regional developments are tied together, witnessed by Saudi Arabia trying to interfere with the talks and the positions taken by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, which all but Oman are unanimously against Iran.

Torabi said that Iran 's success in striking a nuclear deal with the West would strengthen its power in regional equations.

"Our Achilles' heel for Saudi Arabia is Yemen and our Achilles' heels for Israel are Syria and Lebanon. The story is true about Iraq as well," he pointed out.

Iran and the group P5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany) are working to reach the June 30 deadline for striking a nuclear deal.

Both sides maintain, despite partial progress, disagreements remain unsolved especially in the details of the agreement.

Iran is insisting on a single-stage removal of sanctions on its economy, while the opposite side says the removal must come as a process.

Edited by CN