National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the ultimate decision for Iran to whether or not return to diplomacy rested with the supreme leader and not the next president. AP
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the ultimate decision for Iran to whether or not return to diplomacy rested with the supreme leader and not the next president. AP
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the ultimate decision for Iran to whether or not return to diplomacy rested with the supreme leader and not the next president. AP
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the ultimate decision for Iran to whether or not return to diplomacy rested with the supreme leader and not the next president. AP

The Americas

US downplays impact of Raisi’s election on Iran nuclear talks

The supreme leader has the final say on negotiations, says National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan

Bryant Harris
Bryant Harris

June 20, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan is playing down the impact that hardline cleric Ebrahim Raisi's recent victory in the Iranian presidential elections will have on Washington's ongoing nuclear diplomacy with Tehran.

"Whether the president is person A or person B is less relevant than whether their entire system is prepared to make verifiable commitments to constrain their nuclear programme," Mr Sullivan said in an interview to ABC that was broadcast on Sunday.

Although Mr Raisi won a decisive victory in the Iranian elections on Friday, Mr Sullivan said the ultimate decision about whether Iran returns to compliance with the nuclear accord in exchange for US sanctions relief lies with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Supporters of Iran's newly elected president Ebrahim Raisi gather at a rally celebrating his victory, in Imam Hossein square, in the capital Tehran. AFP
Supporters of Iran's newly elected president Ebrahim Raisi gather at a rally celebrating his victory, in Imam Hossein square, in the capital Tehran. AFP
A woman wears a pin bearing the image of Iran's newly elected president Ebrahim Raisi during a rally in Imam Hossein square. AFP
A woman wears a pin bearing the image of Iran's newly elected president Ebrahim Raisi during a rally in Imam Hossein square. AFP
A woman shows an image of Iranian president-elect Ebrahim Raisi on her phone. He received 17.9 million votes in a landslide victory. EPA
A woman shows an image of Iranian president-elect Ebrahim Raisi on her phone. He received 17.9 million votes in a landslide victory. EPA
Women supporters of Ebrahim Raisi hold posters depicting him and national flags as they celebrate his presidential victory. More than 28 million Iranians out of 59 million eligible voters cast their ballots. AFP
Women supporters of Ebrahim Raisi hold posters depicting him and national flags as they celebrate his presidential victory. More than 28 million Iranians out of 59 million eligible voters cast their ballots. AFP
An Iranian child holds a toy gun at a celebration to mark the victory of Ebrahim Raisi in the presidential elections. The vote appeared to see the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history. AP Photo
An Iranian child holds a toy gun at a celebration to mark the victory of Ebrahim Raisi in the presidential elections. The vote appeared to see the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history. AP Photo
Ebrahim Raisi supporters display his portrait during a celebratory rally for his presidential election victory in Tehran. He will succeed President Hassan Rouhani, who is coming to the end of his second term in office. Reuters
Ebrahim Raisi supporters display his portrait during a celebratory rally for his presidential election victory in Tehran. He will succeed President Hassan Rouhani, who is coming to the end of his second term in office. Reuters
Supporters of Ebrahim Raisi gather to celebrate his presidential election victory in Tehran. He had the support of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the backing of the powerful Guardian Council. Reuters
Supporters of Ebrahim Raisi gather to celebrate his presidential election victory in Tehran. He had the support of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the backing of the powerful Guardian Council. Reuters
A conservative cleric and head of Iran’s judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi is expected to usher in hardline policies that will close Iran off from much of the world. Reuters
A conservative cleric and head of Iran’s judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi is expected to usher in hardline policies that will close Iran off from much of the world. Reuters
Ebrahim Raisi will be the first Iranian president to have had sanctions imposed against him by the US government before entering office. Reuters
Ebrahim Raisi will be the first Iranian president to have had sanctions imposed against him by the US government before entering office. Reuters
Although critical of the West, Ebrahim Raisi is keen to to revive the 2015 nuclear accord that lifted global sanctions on Tehran. AP Photo
Although critical of the West, Ebrahim Raisi is keen to to revive the 2015 nuclear accord that lifted global sanctions on Tehran. AP Photo
Other pressing issues Iran's president-elect Ebrahim Raisi faces include an economic downturn that has led to spiralling inflation and job losses and tackling the region's worst outbreak of Covid-19. Reuters
Other pressing issues Iran's president-elect Ebrahim Raisi faces include an economic downturn that has led to spiralling inflation and job losses and tackling the region's worst outbreak of Covid-19. Reuters
Supporters of Ebrahim Raisi celebrate his presidential election victory in Tehran. Reuters
Supporters of Ebrahim Raisi celebrate his presidential election victory in Tehran. Reuters

“The ultimate decision for whether or not to come back lies with Iran’s supreme leader,” said Mr Sullivan.

“And he was the same person before this election as he is after the election.

“Ultimately, it lies with him and his decisions as to whether he wants to go down the path of diplomacy or face mounting pressure, not just from the United States, but from the rest of the international community.”

Iran has gradually scaled up its violations of the nuclear agreement since former president Donald Trump withdrew from the accord in 2018.

The United States and Iran have so far completed six rounds of slow-moving, indirect talks in Vienna aimed at determining which nuclear activities Tehran will have to suspend and which sanctions Washington will have to lift to return to compliance with the deal.

Delegations from the remaining signatories to the accord – the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China – convened in Vienna this weekend following Mr Raisi's election victory.

A staunch critic of the nuclear deal, Mr Raisi does not take office until August. While he is expected to undo many of the reformist policies enacted over the past eight years, Tehran may be able to reach a deal with the US during President Hassan Rouhani's final weeks in office – contingent on Mr Khamenei's blessing.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett used Mr Raisi’s election to caution against a return to the nuclear deal.

“Raisi’s election is, I would say, the last chance for world powers to wake up before returning to the nuclear agreement and understand who they are doing business with,” said Mr Bennett. “A regime of brutal hangmen must never be allowed to have weapons of mass destruction. Israel’s position will not change on this.”

Amnesty International called on Saturday for Mr Raisi to face an investigation for crimes against humanity over his role in forcible disappearances and extrajudicial killings of prisoners in 1988 as well as a crack down on human rights in his current roles as Iran’s judiciary chief.

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

BRAZIL SQUAD

Alisson (Liverpool), Daniel Fuzato (Roma), Ederson (Man City); Alex Sandro (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Eder Militao (Real Madrid), Emerson (Real Betis), Felipe (Atletico Madrid), Marquinhos (PSG), Renan Lodi (Atletico Madrid), Thiago Silva (PSG); Arthur (Barcelona), Casemiro (Real Madrid), Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa), Fabinho (Liverpool), Lucas Paqueta (AC Milan), Philippe Coutinho (Bayern Munich); David Neres (Ajax), Gabriel Jesus (Man City), Richarlison (Everton), Roberto Firmino (Liverpool), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Willian (Chelsea).

RACECARD
%3Cp%3E5pm%3A%20Al%20Shamkha%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E5.30pm%3A%20Khalifa%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E6pm%3A%20Masdar%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E6.30pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E7pm%3A%20Emirates%20Championship%20%E2%80%93%20Group%201%20(PA)%20Dh1%2C000%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E7.30pm%3A%20Shakbout%20City%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%202%2C400m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Whiile you're here
The rules on fostering in the UAE

A foster couple or family must:

  • be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
  • not be younger than 25 years old
  • not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
  • be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
  • have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
  • undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
  • A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
RESULTS

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m
Winner: Arjan, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m​​​​​​​
Winner: Jap Nazaa, Royston Ffrench, Irfan Ellahi.

6pm: Al Ruwais Group 3 (PA) Dh300,000 1,200m​​​​​​​
Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinal.

6.30pm: Shadwell Gold Cup Prestige Dh125,000 1,600m​​​​​​​
Winner: AF Sanad, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.

7pm: Shadwell Farm Stallions Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m​​​​​​​
Winner: Jawal Al Reef, Patrick Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

7.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh80,000 1,600m​​​​​​​
Winner: Dubai Canal, Harry Bentley, Satish Seemar.

More from Firas Maksad
MATCH INFO

Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')

Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')

Russia's Muslim Heartlands

Dominic Rubin, Oxford

The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press

Ebrahim RaisiIran