Mahour S.

Leaders of the Green Movement, Mir Hossein Moussavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and mainstream Green Movement websites, such as Jaras, have not reacted to this nuclear deal and have continued to address domestic concerns. Kalme, Moussavi’s website, ran an unnamed, brief analysis of the deal while criticizing the government for accepting what had been offered to them many months ago in Geneva.

Kaleme also expressed its disapproval with the plan, writing that “The actions of some of Iran’s leaders are more similar to the deceptive actions of Muammar Gaddafi who claim to oppose the United States but then submit to U.S. demands and ship Libya’s entire nuclear efforts to the U.S.”

A group of religious-nationalist intellectuals and politicians, who tend towards more reformist views, surprisingly supported the deal on grounds that it would be in the best economic and political interests of the country and will deter the country’s leadership from “adventurism.” The signatories published their statement May 17, shortly after the deal was announced.

While expressing their belief to Iran’s right to nuclear technology, they state that this right goes hand in hand with the right to “economic development, democracy and freedom,” and such a deal would put more focus on the country’s other needs. The religious-nationalists write that through this deal, Iran’s economic needs will be better met with the lessening of sanctions. Meanwhile, improved relations with the outside world would mean less pressure exerted on opposition forces inside the country, who are often silenced by the state based on national security concerns.

It is widely believed that this deal was approved by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, given that the Brazilian president, Lula de Silva met with Khamenei a day prior to the announcement of the deal in Tehran.