Diplomats: Iran’s Rohani a Chance for a Nuclear Deal

Pro-Diplomacy President Under Pressure to Deliver

Diplomats familiar with the P5+1 negotiations with Iran say that they believe President Hassan Rohani’s election will set the stage for a serious chance at a deal, particularly since Rohani has openly advocated negotiation.

“Rouhani’s election could provide an opportunity and we are expecting to see a change in tone,” noted one diplomat, and Rohani is under pressure to deliver at least some progress quickly.

At the same time, they say the pressure on Rohani means that public opinion in Iran could quickly turn away from negotiations if there is no progress toward easing sanctions.

That may complicate things, however, as the belief that Rohani is “under pressure” will likely mean the US pushing for harsher terms of a deal, and seeking to avoid any compromise.

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Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is news editor of Antiwar.com. View all posts by Jason Ditz

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sherban

If the 5+1 want a change of tone than they have to change the tone.they have to stop the boycott against Iran,and to stop the demonizing of Iran's leaders,namely treat them with respect in discussions.
El Tonno

He just needs to give trade partners on the Eurasian mainland a good reason to tell the US that economic sanctions are no longer justified without losing face and it's a home run. The US is not a choke point in that region.
mojo

USA government have lost all and every legitimate gestures in political and or economic when it comes to Middle East, the reason for that is the Syrian war where the USA and EU have chosen to help the terrorism rather then negotiating with the Syrian people and their government. When it comes to Iran, USA have no other option but to negotiate and leave its ignorant politics at home.
Change Iran Now

The issue in Iran isn’t really about Rouhani. It’s about Khamenei. As the Supreme Leader, his word is final over all national security and foreign policy matters. The President’s portfolio mostly covers internal security and economic issues (neither of which the previous President Ahmadinejad was very good at). The opportunity to open up a line of dialogue with Rouhani is worthwhile, but of little value unless he exhibits the ability to beak from Khamenei without getting sent to house arrest like Khatami. This of course assumes he’s even interested in that considering his 30 plus year career in the Islamist state includes stints as head of security, military policy and nuclear issues. The track record moving forward doesn’t look great either considering since his election, Iran has stepped up the pace of public executions with over 10 hangings in public squares. We certainly HOPE there is a chance here, but it’s always one of those things that you can’t just build a foreign policy on hope, but tough negotiating and concrete results. Let’s hope there is more to Rouhani than a genial smile.
- Thomas L. Knapp
  
  Well, if the issue is Khamenei, then there is no issue. Khameini has consistently decreed that development or possession of nuclear weapons is a sin and a violation of Islamic tenets and that therefore the Iranian government will not have them, period, end of story. Can't get a much better resolution of the alleged "situation" than that, can you?