TEHRAN – A group of members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts on Saturday issued a 10-point statement demanding the punishment of the U.S. president and Israeli prime minister for recent events, warning against any concessions on Iran’s nuclear rights, and insisting that the Strait of Hormuz must remain under Iranian control.
The statement, issued following a “path-breaking” message from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, was addressed to the Iranian people.
The members insisted that identifying and punishing the “aggressor” in the recent war, specifically naming the U.S. president and the Israeli prime minister, and avenging the blood of the martyred Imam, must not be overlooked. They declared that any individual who gains access to these “criminals” is duty-bound to “send them to hell.”
The statement reiterated that, in line with the Leader’s “binding guidance,” Iran’s nuclear rights should not be subject to discussion or negotiation and must be excluded from dialogue.
The assembly members listed the “non-negotiable demands” of the Leader and the people as: securing the management of the Strait of Hormuz, obtaining compensation for damages, the return of blocked assets, the lifting of sanctions, and the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region. They warned that any negligence in these areas would “definitely” provoke a public reaction.
The members called for a swift response to any violation of a recent understanding, warning that the continued presence of Israeli forces in Lebanon constitutes a clear breach. They stated that reopening the Strait of Hormuz would contradict officials’ commitments and be a “strategic error” that would embolden the enemy.
Officials were urged to avoid statements that might give the enemy the impression of weakness, especially given what the statement called the “exhaustion” of the U.S. by the resistance of Iranian fighters.
The statement stressed that in Iran’s system of “Velayat-e Faqih,” the view of the Leader is final, and no official may act against his opinion once it is known.
Citing evidence that the enemy seeks to buy time, particularly with upcoming elections in mind, the members warned of a high probability of renewed attacks. They demanded that the issues in the understanding be resolved within the 30- and 60-day timeframes and that negotiations not be allowed to drag on.
The assembly members said they expected negotiators to learn from “past detrimental negotiations” and to carefully guard against the “tricks of a deceitful and treacherous enemy.” They emphasized that adhering to the Leader’s “red lines” is a religious obligation and that any violation is impermissible.
The statement called on the public to maintain its conscious and dignified presence, to preserve national unity, and to ignore divisive rhetoric. It said the people’s presence is “necessary and decisive” as long as the Leader deems it expedient.
The signatories, describing themselves as servants of the people, said they stand with the Leader and await the fulfilment of promises and conditions, ready to act upon their “religious duty” when necessary.