Special to WorldTribune.com

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said Teheran “won” at the nuclear negotiating table and whatever the U.S. Congress decides after reviewing the deal won’t change that.

AEOI chief Ali Akbar Salehi said that even if Congress blocks President Barack Obama’s expected veto of a vote of disapproval, Iran has still “won.”

Since the agreement was announced a flurry of European and Russian visits and meetings with Iranian counterparts have taken place in anticipation the lifting of international sanctions.

In addition to joint military exercises and arms deals with Russia since the deal was concluded, Iran has also announced the construction of two new nuclear sites and vowed to continue its ballistic missile program unabated.

According to Iranian state news service Fars, Teheran “has inked an agreement with the Russians to construct two nuclear power plants for the generation of electricity, and is also in talks with the Chinese for the construction of two more such power facilities.”

Related: China, Russia to build 2 new nuclear reactors each in Iran, July 23, 2015.

“The fate of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is not fully clear yet since there is commotion in the U.S., and the Congress and the U.S. administration have stood up to each other,” Salehi said.

“No matter [whether] the JCPOA is approved or disapproved by the U.S. Congress and even if Obama fails to do anything, we will be the winning party.”

Iran will have no problem paying for the new nuclear sites since it will receive some $150 billion in frozen assets after international sanctions are lifted. Experts say it does not appear as if the nuclear deal prohibits Iran from building additional reactors.

Experts say another “win” for Iran in the deal is that Teheran is allowed to inspect its own covert nuclear sites where nuclear detonator testing has occurred, and gives the regime 24-days notice before any inspections occur.

Still, some Iranian hard-liners have been holding rallies and calling on parliament to reject the deal. Lawmaker Zohre Tayebzadeh said the deal crosses “red lines” by allowing the United States to supervise Iran’s uranium enrichment program.

  Ali Akbar Salehi, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Iran nuke official: Teheran has ‘won’ no matter what Congress decides, WorldTribune.com