Debate within White House over Iran deal still in early stages - Reuters

A senior Iranian cleric said on Friday that Iran should not link its economic and political decisions to the outcome of nuclear negotiations, warning that such an approach had already caused harm during the 2015 nuclear deal.

“We must be careful not to condition our country and economy on negotiations,” said Ahmad Alamolhoda, the Friday prayer Imam in the northeastern city of Mashhad. “They told us we needed the deal for water, for electricity – and we suffered greatly as a result.”

Without naming specific officials, Alamolhoda criticized those who, in his view, made national progress dependent on diplomatic outcomes. He urged authorities across all branches of government to continue development efforts regardless of talks with the United States.

A senior Iranian cleric warned on Friday against efforts to promote the idea that the country’s economic challenges can only be resolved through negotiations with foreign powers.

“They want people to believe that without negotiations, nothing will be fixed,” said Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani, the Friday prayer Imam in Karaj. “Be careful not to fall into the trap of the devil and his impure agents at home.”

Without naming anyone, Hamedani said some actors repeatedly tie Iran’s economic situation to foreign engagement and say that problems will only be resolved through interaction with adversaries.

He also cautioned against repeating the experience of the 2015 nuclear deal and emphasized that Iran’s negotiating team should act with care and vigilance.

Hamedani urged the public to focus on domestic production, support local industry, and remain patient. “We must invest in ourselves,” he said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Iran is prepared to reach a nuclear agreement within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), following talks in Moscow with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

“Iran is ready to seek a deal within the nuclear non-proliferation agreement,” Lavrov told reporters, adding that Russia is willing to play “any role that will be helpful” in supporting the diplomatic process.

Lavrov also said that Moscow and Tehran remain committed to neutralizing the impact of Western sanctions, which both governments consider illegitimate.

“We will, of course, continue to work bilaterally to ensure that the effect of these illegal sanctions is reduced and brought to zero,” he said. “We have full confidence that we will be able to do this.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that Tehran hopes Russia will play a role in any potential agreement arising from its indirect talks with the United States.

Speaking during a visit to Moscow, Araghchi said Tehran is keeping Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov informed of the negotiations. “We hope Russia will continue to play a constructive role in any potential agreement,” he said, adding that China is also being kept updated.

“A deal is possible if the other side refrains from making unrealistic and unreasonable demands,” he said.

Araghchi also expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Tehran later this year, following an official invitation extended by Iran.

A senior Iranian cleric said on Friday that trust in the country’s nuclear negotiations should be placed only in God, not in foreign powers.

“Don’t tie your hearts to anyone but God in these negotiations,” said Ahmad Khatami, Tehran’s Friday prayer leader. “Negotiations do not matter, put your trust in the one who has always shown kindness to us.”

Speaking during Friday prayers, Khatami said the ongoing indirect talks with the United States are limited strictly to the nuclear file. “There have been no talks beyond the nuclear issue – and there won’t be,” he said.

"In the negotiations, we have three red lines: enrichment, defense and missile issues, and regional presence," he added.

Khatami said, "Trump said in his book that negotiations should be based on fear and intimidation: we are not people who are afraid."

He also said the decision to engage in indirect negotiations was consistent with Quranic guidance, provided it is done from a position of strength.