Iran’s president claims victory in nuke deal

Iran’s president claimed victory in this weekend’s nuclear deal in a series of tweets marking the 100th day of his presidency on Tuesday.

Hassan Rouhani called the Geneva deal a “very positive first step” and said it “shook the foundations” of the international sanctions regime. He vowed that a final deal will allow Iran to continue nuclear enrichment, a potential deal-breaker for Israel and many members of Congress.

In regards to nuclear issue, I promise our people that first lock has been opened. We have shook the foundations of the sanctions regime.

— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) November 26, 2013

“In relation to nuclear issue,” he added, “I want to assure our people” that Iran won’t give up any of its rights – including the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

“Enrichment, which is part of our rights, will continue. It continues today and will continue tomorrow.”

In relation to nuclear issue, I want to assure our people that framework set by the Leader, incl our rights,will be defended & remain intact

— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) November 26, 2013

Enrichment, which is part of our rights, will continue. It continues today and will continue tomorrow. #100DayReport

— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) November 26, 2013

Rouhani went on to say that the interim deal agreed to over the weekend sets the stage for a final agreement granting Iran the right to enrich uranium on its soil. The country’s critics – chief among them Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – say that’s unacceptable because Iran can’t be trusted not to pursue a nuclear weapon.

The important thing abt the agreement in Geneva is not what happens during the coming 6 months, but the principles on which we have agreed

— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) November 26, 2013

i.e. we'll have enrichment on our soil & will end sanctions in a comprehensive accord; Iran will be treated as any other member of the NPT.

— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) November 26, 2013

The tweets, published on Rouhani’s English-language twitter account, nevertheless appear aimed at assuaging domestic concerns that Iran hasn’t caved to Western pressure. The Iranian president also took credit for recent improvements in the nation’s economy, including falling inflation.

Separately, Iran on Tuesday slammed the White House’s take on the nuclear deal as a “one-sided interpretation” that contradicts the text of the agreement.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Ministry took issue with a fact sheet released by the White House over the weekend but did not specify what its concerns were. The criticism appears aimed at the tone of the fact sheet, which spins the deal as freezing Iran’s program in exchange for limited and reversible sanctions relief.

“What has been released by the website of the White House as a fact sheet is a one-sided interpretation of the agreed text in Geneva and some of the explanations and words in the sheet contradict the text of the Joint Plan of Action,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Tuesday, according to Iran’s Fars News Agency. “This fact sheet has unfortunately been translated and released in the name of the Geneva agreement by certain media, which is not true.”

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