Rouhani opposes parliament vote on nuclear deal

TEHRAN — President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday he opposes a parliamentary vote on the landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers because the terms of the agreement would turn into legal obligations if passed by lawmakers.

Rouhani told a news conference that the deal was a political understanding reached with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, not a pact requiring parliamentary approval. The deal also says Iran would implement the terms voluntarily, he said.

The historic deal calls for limiting Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.

“If the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is sent to (and passed by) parliament, it will create an obligation for the government. It will mean the president, who has not signed it so far, will have to sign it,” Rouhani said. “Why should we place an unnecessary legal restriction on the Iranian people?”

A special committee of parliament has already begun studying the deal before putting it to a vote. But the legality of such a move is in doubt because the government has not prepared a bill for parliament to vote on.

The president said a parliamentary vote would benefit the US and its allies, not Iran.

Rouhani said the Supreme National Security Council, the country’s highest security decision-making body, was almost finished analyzing the agreement. The council works independently from the parliament.

Rouhani also said Iran’s military capability has not been affected by the nuclear agreement. His comments were apparently designed to reassure hardline opponents at home that the agreement does not signal a weakening of Tehran’s standing.

“With regards to our defensive capability, we did not and will not accept any limitations,” Rouhani said.

“We will do whatever we need to do to defend our country, whether with missiles or other methods,” the Iranian president added.