Veteran Egyptian Journalist Hails Iran’s ‘Legendary Resistance’ Against US In Nuclear Talks

Veteran Egyptian author and journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal praised Iran’s performance during nuclear negotiations with six world powers. He called it “legendary resistance” against U.S. pressure that earned the Islamic republic a nuclear agreement.

According to Heikal, neither Saudi Arabia nor its allies is capable of sabotaging Iran’s efforts. Heikal’s comments come after Iran managed to reach the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with the p5+1 major powers.

The Egyptian author said Iran was the only “regional country to resist against America.” “This country managed to strike a nuclear agreement with the Western powers, including the U.S., through its legendary resistance,” Iran's Press TV quoted Heikal, who spoke to the Lebanese daily As-Safir. “Saudi Arabia and Gulf regional states are too weak to raise rebellion against the nuclear agreement and overshadow it.”

Heikal also said it was not U.S. President Barack Obama but Iran’s resistance that had “changed the condition.” The veteran journalist was earlier criticized at home after he had suggested that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi should hold a political trial of former President Hosni Mubarak.

Al Bawaba reported that Mubarak’s lawyer Farid al-Deeb had asked Heikal to “stay quiet at home.” He said that the journalist hated the former dictator. According to journalist Adel Hammouda, Heikal always wants to “draw himself close to presidents.”

Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council unanimously endorsed the Iran deal resolution Monday, turning it into international law. Heikal said the U.S. Congress might raise “much noise” over the nuclear agreement but the resistance would die down eventually.