Just hours after the Iran agreement was signed, Iranian Parliament Speaker and key MOU negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf — sarcastically dubbed by some as Iran’s “new rational leader” appeared on state television and reaffirmed the regime’s commitment to the “liberation of Jerusalem.”

“If we seek justice, and God willing we do, and if all these people seek justice for our Imam, then justice for our Imam lies in the liberation of Jerusalem (Quds),” Ghalibaf declared.

“We must uphold that honor, remain committed to that vision, and carry out that mission. A hundred Netanyahus are not even worth the shoelace of our martyred Imam,” he said.

The remarks are likely to intensify criticism of the deal, with opponents arguing that while Tehran presents a more moderate face to the West, its senior leaders continue to publicly champion goals centered on Jerusalem and confrontation with Israel.