Iranian commander: Framework nuclear deal respects Tehran's red lines

Revolutionary Guard chief stresses that ambiguities over lifting sanctions on Islamic Republic must be resolved.

By REUTERS
Iranian workers stand in front of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. (photo credit: REUTERS)
Iranian workers stand in front of the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
(photo credit: REUTERS)
An outline nuclear accord reached this month between Iran and world powers respects Iran's red lines, though ambiguities over the lifting of sanctions must be resolved, a top Iranian military official was quoted as saying on Saturday.
Iran and world powers are engaged in talks to reach a comprehensive deal that would place limits on Iran's nuclear program in return for the removal of some US, European, and United Nations sanctions on its financial and energy sectors.
The United States has said that sanctions removal on Iran will be phased gradually, but Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have said that sanctions on Iran must be lifted as soon as a final agreement is concluded.
"Solutions have been obtained and it seems that the principles and red lines of the Islamic Republic in technical issues have been accepted by the enemy," said Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to Fars News.
"However in regards to removing the sanctions, there are ambiguities which need to be made clear and we must realize that this very issue of how the sanctions will be removed can lead to a lack of agreement."
The IRGC, an elite military force, plays a major role in Iran's political and economic affairs.