As the Iranian negotiation team arrived today, May 13, in Vienna to begin the process of drafting a final nuclear deal with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1), Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s foreign policy adviser, Ali Akbar Velayati, has lent his support to the current Iranian negotiators while rejecting the methods of the previous teams.

Velayati is a longtime adviser for Ayatollah Khamenei. He was the foreign minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1981 to 1997 and currently heads the Center for Strategic Research, President Hassan Rouhani’s previous job.

“The nuclear negotiating team has been formed with individuals who have a long history of diplomatic and international work,” Velayati told the Islamic Republic News Agency, which is managed by the administration. “All of the members of the negotiation team were my colleagues when I was at the Foreign Ministry, and I know them well."

He added, “They all have a long history and experience in negotiations, especially internationally, and they are all skilled individuals. As long as they move within the framework of the principles drawn out by the supreme leader, they will be supported.”