Iran has doubled down on its promise to avenge Israel's killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh despite concerted efforts by European governments to dissuade Tehran from escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Zonnour, previously known for his staunch opposition to the agreement, made these remarks just days after the parliament unanimously approved Masoud Pezeshkian’s cabinet. In his final defense, the new president revealed that the list of ministers had already been pre-approved by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Zonnur emphasized that the decision on the future of the Iran nuclear deal, or JCPOA, is a collective one, involving various state bodies and officials. "Whether the nuclear deal moves forward or not is a supra-governmental decision," he said. "It's not up to one individual or one institution, but rather a collective decision involving bodies like the Supreme National Security Council and the heads of the three branches of government."
However, the decision about the revival of the nuclear deal has always been a collective one. This didn't stop Zonnour, who was the chairman of the parliament's Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy, from previously calling for the execution of then-President Hassan Rouhani during his term when the JCPOA was signed.
Zonnour also stated that he would support whatever decision the Islamic regime makes—whether it’s to continue negotiations, halt them, or revive the nuclear deal. This significant departure from his previous stance has raised eyebrows among observers, sparking speculation about the reasons behind his apparent change of heart.
The lawmaker's comments come amid increasing speculation about a potential shift in Iran's foreign policy. Some analysts suggest that Zonnour's reversal could signal a broader consensus within the Iranian establishment, leaning toward a more flexible approach to nuclear negotiations and possibly even toward the West.
In an unprecedented development earlier in the day, the chairman of Iran National Development Fund called on Pezeshkian to re-establish US consular services at the venue of former American embassy in Tehran.
"Now that all the pillars of the regime are supporting you and your government, please, if you see fit, implement a few tasks that have been left unfinished for many years. It might be better to do these before the honeymoon period ends," said Mehdi Ghazanfari, appointed by former hardline president Ebrahim Raisi.
While nothing is certain, it appears that hardliners may be aligning themselves with the broader consensus within the regime, especially after Pezeshkian confirmed publicly that Khamenei is behind the main decisions in his administration.
Amid swirling rumors of a shift in Iran's foreign policy, the world still holds its breath against the backdrop of a high-stakes diplomatic game to prevent any escalation in the Middle East.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Friday said he had spoken with his Israeli counterpart to discuss a range of issues in the region, including the ongoing exchanges of fire on the Israel-Lebanon border.
In a post on X, Austin said he also discussed the risk of escalation from Iran and Iran-backed groups in the call on Thursday and told Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant that the United States is well postured across the region.
The dialogue happened a few hours after US Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh emphasized on the US significant military buildup in the region, trying to portray it as a stark warning to Iran that any aggression would be met with unwavering force.
Houthi-affiliated media outlets reported Friday two US-British airstrikes on the Iran-backed group's positions west of Taiz governorate, southwest of Yemen.
Despite all this, Iran's new Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in conversations with French and British counterparts, stressed Tehran’s right to retaliate against the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.
The British, French, and German foreign ministers all talked to Iran’s new foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Friday, calling on him to help prevent the escalation of tensions with Israel.
French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné "expressed his deep concern about the rise in tensions in the region," calling on his counterpart to do "everything possible to avoid a regional conflagration, which would be of no interest to anyone, including Iran," the French Foreign Ministry said.
Séjourné called on Iran to urge the destabilizing actors it supports in the region to exercise maximum restraint, saying he passed messages to all the actors concerned during his recent trip to the region to call for a de-escalation, in particular between Israel and Lebanon.
Araghchi is known to be "open" to the west and has expressed his desire to “rebuild” relations with European powers. In his conversations with top European diplomats, however, he reiterated the position set by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that responding to Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran is an “absolute right.”
Haniyeh was killed in his residence on July 31, having attended the inauguration ceremony of Iran’s president, Pezeshkian. Iranian officials blamed Israel for the targeting and Khamenei vowed to “avenge his blood.”
Intense diplomatic efforts ensued, led by the Biden administration, warning Iranian officials of the dire “consequences” if a large-scale attack against Israel were to materialize.
The attack was said to be “imminent” for more than a week, but then the intelligence assessment in Israel and the US downgraded the threat, saying that Iran seemed to have decided to “delay” – but not call off – its retaliation.
“The US believes Iran is still prepared to do something if they choose to," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday, referring to Iran's potential attack against Israel. “The US continues to monitor Iran, and is not taking anything for granted,” he added.
Iranian officials have said many times that the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran “cannot and will not go unpunished.” The diplomatic efforts of the US, EU, and regional leaders, seems to have succeeded in cooling down the crisis.
A key factor in Iran’s reevaluation seems to be the ongoing talks towards a ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which Iranian officials say is a priority.
The Biden administration has been hard at work to get Hamas and Israel to sign a ceasefire agreement that would ensure the release of remaining hostages in Gaza. Some US officials have suggested that a Gaza ceasefire might avert Iran’s retaliation. Iranian officials have rejected the notion, while admitting that they don’t want their response to jeopardize the negotiations.
“The timing, conditions, and manner of Iran’s response will be meticulously orchestrated to ensure that it occurs at a moment of maximum surprise,” Iran’s UN missions said Wednesday in a statement to the Wall Street Journal. “Perhaps when their eyes are fixed on the skies and their radar screens, they will be taken by surprise from the ground—or perhaps even by a combination of both,” the statement added.
An IRGC spokesman, Ali-Mohammad Naini, echoed the sentiment. “Time is on our side, and the waiting period for this response may be prolonged,” indicating a strategic shift from Tehran’s earlier threats of immediate and severe retaliation.
