Saeed Jalili, former Iranian nuclear negotiator and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 2007 to 2013, defended Iran’s nuclear progress under his tenure at a special parliamentary committee to review the final nuclear deal. Jalili’s testimony at the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) committee made headlines on social media and news agencies; however, Iranian newspapers offered a counter to his mixed track record. Jalili’s speech was shared with the media through Seyed Hossein Naghavi Hosseini, spokesman for the special committee.
Jalili began his speech by listing his team’s achievements, which he included as increasing “the number of centrifuges, launching the Fordow [nuclear facility], 76% progress at the Arak heavy water reactor, converting the Tehran reactor to production, 450 kilos [992 pounds] enriched at 20%, and completing and using the Bushehr [nuclear power] plant.” At the same time, Jalili believes that under his administration, the West “lost hope in sanctions, the resistance economy took shape, the enemy’s [plans] in the 2009 protests [were foiled] and the stability of Iran’s regional position” took hold.