Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and secretary of the Expediency Council, stirred up a little bit of controversy yesterday when he told the Financial Times that Iran would be ready to resume talks on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with the United States and other Western powers if they provide a “clear signal” that sanctions will be lifted within a year. “They can announce and reassure us that all sanctions imposed after the JCPOA would be lifted in less than one year and tell us to go and negotiate this process,” he said in comments that the FT described as “the clearest indication yet of the Islamic Republic’s willingness to engage with the U.S.”
Rezaei’s remarks about the sanctions created a flap at the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, however. “Iranian polity is vibrant & officials express diverse opinions,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted yesterday after the interview was posted. “But those opinions should NOT be confused with state policy. As Iran’s FM & chief nuclear negotiator, I will shortly present our constructive concrete plan of action—through proper diplomatic channels.”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh, told the FT that “all foreign policy issues are conveyed only through official channels” and that “clearly” Mohammad Javad Zarif, the country’s foreign minister “is in charge” not Rezaei “who has no direct or indirect responsibility” in this regard.
