How will Iran ratify the deal?

In Tehran, there is intense debate over whether parliament or the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) should review the nuclear deal with six world powers. The government and some of its supporters argue that the latter falls under the purview of the SNSC. Meanwhile, Principlists believe that parliament should be given priority.

In general, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei makes policies and decisions regarding major issues. However, there appear to be differences about Khamenei’s description of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the formal name of the nuclear deal. He has referred to the document as a “text” and not an “agreement.” On at least two occasions, he has stressed that the JCPOA should be approved “through a legal path.” He said this first in response to a letter from President Hassan Rouhani regarding the negotiations, and then in his recent speech at the Eid al-Fitr prayers.