Iran Parliament Passes Bill on Nuclear Deal

On June 23, Iran’s parliament overwhelmingly voted in favor of a bill stipulating several conditions for a nuclear deal between Iran and the world’s six major powers. The legislation, intended to safeguard Iran’s nuclear achievements, received some 213 votes in favor, 10 against and six abstentions.

The powerful Guardian Council, composed of legal experts and Islamic jurists, debated the bill the next day. A majority of its 12 members ruled that the legislation complied with the constitution.

 
The following are key points of the legislation as reported by Iranian media:
 
·  A deal would only be acceptable to Iran if all sanctions are lifted on the same day a deal takes effect.
·  The International Atomic Energy Agency should only be allowed to conduct “standard monitoring activities” in accordance with the framework of safeguards agreement.
·  Access to military, security or other sensitive non-nuclear facilities as well nuclear scientists should be off limits to inspectors.
·  Restrictions on nuclear research and development for peaceful purposes should not be restricted.
·  Any final nuclear agreement with the world’s six major powers would only be valid it complies with the requirements of the bill.
 
On June 30, a member of Iran’s negotiating team, Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Ravanchi, explained the bill's implications in an interview with Ariane Tabatabai:
 
“You know, a few days ago, the Majles adopted a bill ratified later by the Council of Guardians. We don't need their approval, but the agreement has to be submitted to the Majles by the Foreign Ministry and every six months, the Foreign Ministry had to present an updated report to the parliament. There are other provisions in [the] deal. For instance, we have to work within the framework set up by the Majles. The Majles is very active on this. The ratification of the Additional Protocol (AP) [to the International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards Agreement] has to go through parliament, and we believe that even besides the ratification of the AP, even the provisional implementation should have the blessing of the parliament. As the government, we have to listen to the Majles, and they give us the framework to operate within.”
 
Click here for Ravanchi's full interview with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
 
Click here for more information on Iran's parliament.
 
Photo credits: Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs mfa.ir