Masoud Pezeshkian is heading to the holy city of Qom following a strongly worded statement (which...

Fereshteh Sadeghi

Masoud Pezeshkian is heading to the holy city of Qom following a strongly worded statement (which can be considered a warning) issued by 68 members of the Assembly of Experts.

The Assembly declared that ignoring the ten conditions set by the Supreme Leader regarding negotiations with the United States is religiously prohibited (strictly forbidden).

It appears that Pezeshkian is attempting to convince the senior religious authorities (Maraji') to accept the agreement with the United States, after they described the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a "strategic mistake" in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

The senior Ayatollahs also insist that the nuclear program must remain outside the scope of negotiations.

The Assembly of Experts—which chose Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader—emphasized that the final say in state affairs belongs to the Supreme Leader, and no official may knowingly act against his opinion.

According to the text, this confirms rumors that Pezeshkian had urged the Supreme Leader to approve the agreement while the latter opposed it.

Furthermore, the senior authorities and members of the Assembly of Experts informed the government of the need to conclude negotiations with the United States within a period of 30 to 60 days and not to prolong them.

They also warned that they would monitor whether the United States fulfills its commitments; otherwise, they

"will perform their religious duty."

Pezeshkian’s visit to Qom recalls the 2016 visit by President Hassan Rouhani to the same city, when he attempted to defuse criticism and reassure the senior authorities regarding the nuclear deal (JCPOA).

With the United States continuing to breach the truce, according to the text, Pezeshkian’s mission to convince the senior clerics appears even more difficult.