Saed News: A member of the Expediency Discernment Council, emphasizing that "there is no need for new negotiations," stated that the most important issue in the potential resumption of negotiations between Iran and the United States is "the U.S. government’s fulfillment of previous agreements and commitments."
According to Saed News, quoting IRNA, Gholamreza Mesbahi-Moghaddam, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, commented on the repeated insistence of some powerful governments on negotiating with Iran. He stated that, as the Supreme Leader has also pointed out, the United States insists on negotiations to impose both its new and previous demands.
According to IRNA, he added that if the U.S. seeks serious and genuine negotiations, it must first return to its previous commitments and fully implement them in a way that satisfies the Iranian side according to the original agreement. Only then would negotiations for further steps be meaningful.
The spokesman for the Society of Combatant Clerics emphasized that “there is no real need for new negotiations,” and the key issue is adherence to previous agreements and commitments. He stated that if the U.S. fulfills its prior obligations and returns to its responsibilities, Iran will naturally agree to establishing balanced and reciprocal relations.
In response to a question about how European countries have repeatedly broken their promises regarding the JCPOA while now accusing Iran of non-compliance, Mesbahi-Moghaddam stressed that deceptive individuals and entities always approach matters from a demanding stance. However, he argued that these entities must first fulfill their own commitments and have no right to make demands beyond the terms of mutual agreements.
The Expediency Discernment Council member noted that this imperialist mindset, which today manifests as bullying, drives these powers to engage with others from a superior or creditor-like position. They either forget their obligations or deliberately ignore them, and despite failing to meet their responsibilities, they act as if they are the ones owed something. In essence, bullies always behave as if they are in control, forcing others into a subordinate position.
When asked how internal unity within Iran's governmental institutions could contribute to solving national challenges, Mesbahi-Moghaddam responded that success is undoubtedly tied to the cohesion and unity of the three branches of government. When these branches collaborate with mutual understanding and constructive interaction to address public issues, progress will be much faster.
He added that any dysfunction or lack of coordination between these institutions slows progress. However, if they work together effectively, they can openly discuss challenges and resolve them through constructive dialogue.
Mesbahi-Moghaddam pointed out that in recent years, the Supreme Leader has facilitated meetings among the heads of the three branches of government to foster agreements on national issues. These agreements, once approved by the Leader, move toward implementation, significantly expediting and streamlining governance.
The Expediency Discernment Council member emphasized that improving administrative processes also depends on the competency of officials in charge. He stated that if leaders are skilled, knowledgeable about challenges, and capable of understanding and addressing problems effectively, they can make significant contributions to overcoming national difficulties.
Addressing the Supreme Leader's statement that some of the country's economic problems are unrelated to sanctions, Mesbahi-Moghaddam pointed to the flaws in Iran's foreign exchange policy. One major issue, he noted, is the "export commitment law," which has loopholes and requires revision.
He explained that some exporting companies, including major publicly traded firms, are allowed to withhold 30-40% of their foreign currency earnings from the Central Bank. Instead of depositing these earnings into the Central Bank, they inject them into the free market—a practice not approved by the Central Bank Governor—which further expands and strengthens the parallel currency market. Consequently, the volume of foreign exchange reaching the Central Bank decreases.
The spokesman for the Society of Combatant Clerics also highlighted another issue: delays in transferring foreign exchange to the Central Bank. He noted that this delay creates a situation where demand for foreign currency exists, but the supply does not properly materialize.
As a result, businesses—especially manufacturers—turn to the unofficial currency market, purchasing foreign exchange at higher prices to secure raw materials. Since they cannot afford to halt production or lay off workers while waiting for delayed foreign exchange allocations, they resort to the black market, driving up costs and ultimately increasing product prices.
Mesbahi-Moghaddam stressed that to address these challenges, the government and parliament must immediately reform the foreign exchange commitment law, ensuring that all export-derived currency is delivered to the Central Bank without delay. He noted that Iran currently enjoys a favorable currency income, with the former Minister of Economy reporting a positive $28 billion trade balance, including oil sales. Therefore, the country has surplus foreign exchange reserves.
If this surplus foreign currency is channeled into the official exchange market, Mesbahi-Moghaddam argued, the market will experience an excess supply, preventing price hikes and potentially stabilizing or even reducing exchange rates. This stabilization would, in turn, help regulate the prices of other goods.
He concluded by stating that public dissatisfaction primarily stems from price instability and frequent increases in the cost of goods. Therefore, he emphasized the need for immediate reforms to stabilize exchange rates and control inflation, ensuring price stability in the domestic market.
