Rouhani: Iran Administration to Continue Support for Armed Forces

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has pledged full support for the country’s Armed Forces in defending the Islamic Republic’s independence and territorial integrity, according to Press T.V.

“The [Iranian] government and nation have confidence in the Army as faithful and self-sacrificing armed forces and the government will continue its support for the Armed Forces,” Rouhani said in a meeting with high-ranking Army commanders on Saturday.

He added that the Armed Forces should also stand by the administration in any sector deemed necessary and help the executive branch of the government run the country’s affairs.

 The Iranian chief executive described public trust and affiliation with no particular political party as the “biggest assets” of the country’s Army.

Rouhani commended the Armed Forces’ performance after the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

US President Donald Trump delivered an anti-Iran speech on October 13, in which he said he would not continue to certify Iran’s compliance with the terms of the multilateral nuclear deal, reached under his predecessor Barack Obama, and warned that he might ultimately terminate the agreement.

Trump also announced sanctions on Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), which he accused of destabilizing the Middle East and threatening American interests in the region.

Senior Iranian officials slammed Washington’s move against the IRGC, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying Iranian people from all walks of life strongly supported the defenders of the country and the region against terrorism.

The IRGC is a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, a standing army of a United Nations member state. It has been effectively providing military advisory support for the elected governments of Iraq and Syria in their battles against various groups of extremist militants.

Those militant groups are widely reported to be receiving logistical, financial, and other forms of support from the US government, particularly in Syria, where Washington has attempted but failed to have the Syrian government toppled.

Back in July, President Rouhani said the three branches of the government support the country’s Armed Forces and no one can harm them.

Iran is currently in such a position that no one can harm it, Rouhani said, adding that the three branches of the government and other pillars of the Islamic establishment are united and support the country’s Armed Forces.

Total to comply with any US sanctions on Iran – CEO

In another development, Total says it has opened an office in Washington to coordinate its operations in Iran where the French oil and gas major plans to develop Phase 11 of the giant South Pars gas field.

Total was the first Western energy firm to sign a major deal, worth $4.8 billion, with Iran after sanctions were lifted on the Islamic Revolution in 2016 under a nuclear agreement.

However, US President Donald Trump’s refusal last month to endorse the nuclear agreement with Iran and his threat to levy new sanctions on the country has thrown the future of the deal into doubt. 

On Thursday, Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne was quoted as saying that his company would comply with any sanctions on Iran. Iranian officials, he said, “know that if we can not go ahead it is because of a decision by the US.”

The Washington office, Total said, would help coordinate relations with the US Treasury and State Department to make sure the French firm remained in compliance with any changes to US sanctions.

For now, Total is awaiting a US Congress decision on whether the Iran nuclear agreement is in line with the American interests, Pouyanne said last month. Trump has threatened to terminate the pact and if the Congress agrees, Iran could be placed under renewed sanctions.

“If the framework changes, if we can legally do and execute the contract we will do that. There are huge opportunities in Iran. But let’s see if we can do that initial project first,” Pouyanne said last week.

Total’s Chief Financial Officer Patrick de La Chevardiere has said the group expected to announce the main contract for South Pars at the beginning of 2018 when there would be clarity from the US.

Iranians are discontent and are expressing their frustration over perceived foot-dragging by Total. Some lawmakers have even called for penalties if Total failed to implement the project.

One lawmaker said last month that Total had virtually done nothing in Iran since the signing of the South Pars contract.

R.S