Seven Days from Deadline, Ayatollah Says No Nuke Deal Without Sanctions Lifted Immediately

Seven days out of the final deadline for a P5+1 nuclear agreement with Iran, the supreme leader reiterated on Twitter what Tehran has been demanding all along: all sanctions lifted immediately.

All economic, financial & banking sanctions, either by UNSC, US Congress or administration must be lifted on same day deal is signed. 1/2

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015

Other sanctions can be removed gradually by a reasonable timetable. 2/2

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015

In fact, Ayatollah Khamenei had lots of opinions after meeting with President Hassan Rouhani today.

Reviewing trend of US demands, anyone concludes US seeks dismantling of our nuclear industry & identity, leaving a caricature of it behind.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015

Strategy of #Resistance& tolerance against pressures worked& Americans admitted #sanctions had no crippling impact, so they sought new ways.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015

We are seeking a good deal, as Americans do. But by good deal we mean a fair deal while they mean a totalitarian agreement. #IranTalks

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015

Major red lines in #IranTalks include accepting some restrictions, but not for 10 or 15 yrs. R&D and constructions must continue.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) June 23, 2015

Talks are currently ongoing in Vienna. “Our expectation is that we’re going to get – if there’s an agreement to be had, that it will be the right agreement, it’ll be a good deal, and it’ll be a deal that ensures that Iran does not ever come into possession of a nuclear weapon,” State Department press secretary John Kirby told reporters Monday.

When asked about recent chants of “death to America” in Iran’s parliament, Kirby replied, “I’m not in a position to speak for every individual that might have been shouting ‘death to America.'”

“What’s more telling is less the chants or perhaps the vitriol by some hardliners and more the fact that we are sitting down with a team in Vienna and progress is being made,” he added. “…So work’s being done, and I think that’s where Secretary Kerry’s focus is and that’s where Wendy Sherman’s focus is: the work there at the table and not necessarily the chants from people in Iran.”