Rohani’s Influence Could Mean Major Shift on Talks

But Will the US Be Listening?

Iranian President Hassan Rohani, set for inauguration this weekend, won election primarily on a campaign in favor of diplomacy and rapprochement with the West. Since the election he has focused on his desire for talks.

Though traditionally the Iranian president has limited influence over diplomacy, his long-standing role in Iranian politics and close connections to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei gives him a unique opportunity to shift the tone of diplomacy.

Rohani has long criticized Iran’s diplomatic strategy, insisting they are too unwilling to compromise. That seems set to change, but will there be anyone to compromise with?

That’s less clear, because a campaign of hostility toward diplomacy on general principle has been growing in the US virtually from the moment Rohani won. With 76 Senators signing a letter condemning diplomacy, suggesting that even before Rohani talks over the well may already be so poisoned for him that negotiations with the US will be difficult to put together.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.