The Iranian parliament approved today, Tuesday, the general framework for a draft resolution on canceling sanctions and ensuring national interests, and for its part, the European Union announced that the Joint Committee for the Comprehensive Action Plan with Iran (the nuclear agreement) will meet on December 16 in the Austrian capital Vienna.
The draft resolution includes 9 items, including asking the Iranian government to backtrack on some of its commitments to the nuclear agreement, and to cancel the additional protocol to the agreement, in case it does not achieve Iran's interests from it and European countries do not fulfill their obligations.
The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Muhammad Baqir Qulaibaf, stressed the parliament’s right to take such decisions, stressing that the latter would exercise its rights based on the constitution.
It is reported that the Foreign Ministry announced its opposition to the proposal.
Bold lines
According to state television, the outlines of the project, called the Strategic Action Plan to lift sanctions and protect the interests of the Iranian nation, were accepted by 251 votes out of 290.
After the bill was approved, MPs chanted slogans against the United States and Israel.
If the bill receives final approval by the Constitutional Council and becomes a law, the Iranian Atomic Energy Commission will begin enriching uranium by at least 20%, and increase its stocks of low-enriched uranium.
The nuclear agreement concluded with the major powers in 2015 did not allow Tehran to enrich uranium by more than 3.67%.
The bill would allow Iran to increase uranium enrichment (Al-Jazeera)
Assassination .. threatened
These decisions come days after the assassination of the prominent Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, following the targeting of a car he was traveling in near Tehran.
The Revolutionary Guards promised "harsh revenge" against the murderers of Fakhrizadeh, accusing Israel of being behind the assassination.
For its part, the European Union announced that the Joint Committee for the Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran will meet on December 16 in Vienna.
A statement by the union stated that the meeting will be held under the chairmanship of Helga Schimimed, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, and representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom will attend, in addition to Iran.
Participants will discuss ongoing work to preserve the nuclear deal with Iran and how to ensure the full and effective implementation of the agreement by all parties, including preparing for ministerial-level exchanges.
New details
Earlier, Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the National Security Council in Iran announced new details of the assassination of Fakhrizadeh.
Shamkhani said that the assassination was carried out from a distance using new and sophisticated devices, accusing the Mossad and the Mujahideen Khalq Organization of being behind the operation.
Yesterday, Monday, an official funeral was held for Fakhrizadeh, in the presence of a limited number of senior military and political leaders, without public participation, due to the health measures related to the Corona pandemic.
During the ceremony, Defense Minister Amir Hatami said, "Our response to the assassination of Fakhri Zadeh is coming and is inevitable, and it will be severe punishment for those who committed this crime."
Iranian Vice President Ishaq Jahangiri described the assassination of the nuclear scientist as state terrorism, and added - during his participation in the meeting of the prime ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization - that the countries of the world must break their silence in the face of this terrorist crime, as he put it.
Contact .. a threat
Meanwhile, the British Middle East Eye website revealed that Iran had threatened to launch a direct military strike on the UAE, in response to the assassination of Fakhrizadeh.
The British website - quoting an unnamed Emirati source - said that Tehran had contacted the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, directly, and informed him that it would strike a blow to his country in response to the assassination of Fakhrizadeh.
The Emirati source confirmed - according to the British site - that Tehran will hold the UAE responsible for the assassination of the nuclear scientist, in the event Iran is subjected to a possible US attack.