Iran’s military chief congratulated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for negotiators’ success in reaching a nuclear agreement with six world powers, in an open backing of President Hassan Rouhani’s government.

In praising the outcome of the talks, General Hassan Firouzabadi highlighted rifts between Rouhani and critics who say negotiations don’t serve Iran’s national interest. While Khamenei hasn’t commented publicly on the framework accord reached last week, the general’s warm words may indicate the political establishment’s official line in presenting the deal at home.

Thanks to Khamenei’s leadership and efforts by Rouhani’s team of negotiators, “another step was taken to ensure Iran’s inalienable right” to produce peaceful nuclear energy, Firouzabadi said in a letter to Khamenei, the Fars news agency reported.

The general thanked Rouhani for actions taken in this “sensitive arena” and Khamenei for his “guidance” on nuclear negotiations, according to Fars. Firouzabadi reports to Khamenei, Iran’s ultimate authority.

The general echoed Rouhani’s observation in a televised speech Friday that the deal meant Iran was safeguarding its rights and making progress to lift international sanctions.

“There is no question that the Supreme Leader has been fully informed of all developments,” said Saeed Laylaz, an economist and former adviser to ex-president Mohammad Khatami. Firouzabadi’s comments show the nuclear agreement “has been endorsed” and that security forces also back the government, Laylaz said.

Harmful Deal?

The agreement between Iran and the group known as P5+1 — the U.S., U.K., Russia, China, France and Germany — announced April 2 in Lausanne, Switzerland, doesn’t commit either side to action and is an outline to be fleshed out over the next three months.

Hardliners say the deal will harm Iran and allege that Iranian and U.S. leaders are presenting different versions of the deal to their nations.

At a conference in Tehran, conservative academics pointed to differences in statements made by Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his counterpart, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, about the extent of sanctions relief and other topics.

“How can they talk for a year and a half and then come out with different texts?” said Manouchehr Mohammadi, a professor of law and political science at Tehran University.

‘We Are Anxious’

The conference Sunday was sponsored by the Committee to Protect the Interests of Iran, which describes itself as aligned with the “We Are Anxious” movement, a political group that emerged last year to oppose Rouhani’s efforts to strike a nuclear deal.

Another Tehran University professor, Mohammad Sadegh Kooshki, criticized the extent of sanctions removal.

“It’s not apparent whether the sanctions are to be canceled, suspended or halted,” Kooshki said. “The Iranian side and the Western side are using different terms.”

Lawmaker Hamid Resaei, a Rouhani critic, faulted negotiators for agreeing to limit Iran’s uranium enrichment activity.

Zarif says the agreement isn’t binding and some matters haven’t been finalized, Resaei said, according to a separate Fars report.

“Then brother, why are you fooling the nation?” Resaei asked. “If nothing is binding then what is this victory about and why are you congratulating the nation?”

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