Iranian nuclear power: Parliament's hard line prevails over President Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran on December 2, 2020. AP

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2 min

In the standoff between the Parliament, dominated by the conservatives, and President Hassan Rouhani, on the approach to be adopted vis-à-vis the West after the victory of Democrat Joe Biden, in favor of the return of the United States to the nuclear agreement, it is the hard line that seems to have won.

President Rouhani seems to be losing momentum.

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With our correspondent in Tehran,

After several days of arm wrestling between the executive power and the Parliament, the Supreme Council of National Security, which brings together the highest political and military officials of the country, took up the cause in favor of the Parliament which passed a law on the nuclear issue. 

Paradoxically, this Council is chaired by President Hassan Rohani who criticized the law.

Supporter of a flexible position, Hassan Rouhani has multiplied the signs of openness since the victory of Joe Biden in favor of the return of the United States to the nuclear agreement and the lifting of the American sanctions imposed in recent years.

But the US

wants to toughen the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal and limit Tehran's ballistic program.

For the conservatives, close to the Supreme Leader, this is out of the question.

The law passed by Parliament obliges the government to resume 20% enrichment and install ultra-modern centrifuges, which is contrary to the nuclear agreement.

According to this law, if Western countries do not take concrete measures within two months to allow Iran to have normal banking relations with the rest of the world and to export its oil, Tehran will reduce its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

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• Iran

• Nuclear

• Hassan Rouhani

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