Delivering the Tehran Friday Prayer, Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi emphasized that Iran will not close nuclear facilities in any agreement with the 5+1 Powers.Sedighi declared, The Supreme Leader stated that we will not retreat from the achievements that scientists have achieved in the matter of peaceful nuclear energy. Therefore, by the order of (Ayatollah Khamenei) the Arak heavy water reactor and other facilities are not closeable whatsoever.
Iranian officials have insisted that research and development of Irans nuclear program cannot be halted and that Tehrans 19,000 centrifuges for enrichment of uranium must continue to operate. However, they have offered the re-design of the Arak reactor, which Western countries fear will produce plutonium by-product that can be used in a militarized nuclear program.
Iran and the 5+1 Powers completed the third round of talks on a comprehensive deal last week. The next talks are scheduled for mid-May in Vienna.
See Iran Daily, April 10: Serious Resolve Needed for Nuclear Agreement
Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guards, who have been sceptical of the talks in the past, have given a back-handed endorsement. Their weekly magazine declared that Iran is achieving its fundamental goals because of US difficulties:
One of the reasons for the inclination of America and the West for a low-cost agreement with Iran that gains the most concessions is that they lack new options should the agreements fail or are incapable of remaining hopeful in the practical guarantee of their tools of sanctions or their other tools in the international system.
The explanation of the Guards Cultural Deputy, Hossein Saffar Harandi, was even more convoluted and risked pointing to Iranian, rather than American, concessions from weakness:
We, in theory, will not back down a particle from our ideals. It is, however, possible that that we have apparently backed down, which the Supreme Leader interprets as heroic flexibility. But this does not mean that we have backed down a step from our ideals.
(h/t Iran Tracker)
Students Disciplined After Monday Protest Over Political Prisoners & Nuclear Talks
At least nine students have been summoned by Amir Kabir Universitys disciplinary committee following protests on Monday.
Students greeted a speech by Saeed Jalili, the hardline former nuclear negotiator, with calls for engagement with the 5+1 Powers in current talks and the release of opposition leaders Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi from 38 months of house arrest.
See Mondays Student Protest for Political Prisoners and Nuclear Engagement
Oil Ministry Gives Downbeat Assessment of Exports for 2014-2015
Despite a recent recovery in Irans oil exports, Deputy Oil Minister Mansour Moazami has given a downbeat assessment of prospects for 2014-2015.
Moazami, who said last year was the worst-ever for the Islamic Republics energy sector, said officials expect 1.2 million barrels per day in crude oil exports from March 2014 to March 2015.
Irans exports were 2.2 million bpd at the start of 2012, before the effect of US-led sanctions. They have rebounded from a historic low of 800,000 bpd last year to 1.6 million bpd in February.
US officials have said they expect Irans exports to be capped at 1 million bpd until a comprehensive nuclear agreement is reached.
State outlet Press TV tries to convert the assessment into a celebration, Iran Crude Oil Exports Soar to 1.2mn bpd: Official.
By EA WorldView
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