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| For Iran’s Leader, Time Is Not Yet Right for Meeting Obama | For Iran’s Leader, Time Is Not Yet Right for Meeting Obama |
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| TEHRAN — A reformist newspaper, Shargh, published photos on Wednesday of President Obama and Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, delivering their speeches at the United Nations, under the headline “Perhaps Another Time.” | |
| The headline reflected a letdown among average Iranians at Mr. Rouhani’s decision to avoid meeting with Mr. Obama at the United Nations. But another paper, Kayhan, which represents the powerful conservative faction in the government, had a very different reaction, expressing horror at the possibility that “the clean hand of our president would for moments be in the bloody clench” of President Obama. | The headline reflected a letdown among average Iranians at Mr. Rouhani’s decision to avoid meeting with Mr. Obama at the United Nations. But another paper, Kayhan, which represents the powerful conservative faction in the government, had a very different reaction, expressing horror at the possibility that “the clean hand of our president would for moments be in the bloody clench” of President Obama. |
| As he maneuvers toward nuclear negotiations he hopes can be completed quickly, Mr. Rouhani walks a razor’s edge at home. He has to navigate between domestic hard-liners who are skeptical of American intentions and sensitive to the slightest sign of Iranian weakness and the hopes of the average citizens who voted him into office and want Iran to end its isolation from the developed world. | As he maneuvers toward nuclear negotiations he hopes can be completed quickly, Mr. Rouhani walks a razor’s edge at home. He has to navigate between domestic hard-liners who are skeptical of American intentions and sensitive to the slightest sign of Iranian weakness and the hopes of the average citizens who voted him into office and want Iran to end its isolation from the developed world. |
| Mr. Rouhani’s visit to New York this week, after weeks of conciliatory diplomatic statements, stirred high expectations in the American news media and among the public in Iran. But the excitement, advisers and analysts close to the government in Tehran say, was getting out of hand. | Mr. Rouhani’s visit to New York this week, after weeks of conciliatory diplomatic statements, stirred high expectations in the American news media and among the public in Iran. But the excitement, advisers and analysts close to the government in Tehran say, was getting out of hand. |
| Mr. Rouhani, who said Wednesday that he was open to a meeting with Mr. Obama at a later date, canceled because a meeting at this stage — in the absence of a strong gesture of good will from the Americans — would have made him look weak in coming talks and to the hard-liners back home. | Mr. Rouhani, who said Wednesday that he was open to a meeting with Mr. Obama at a later date, canceled because a meeting at this stage — in the absence of a strong gesture of good will from the Americans — would have made him look weak in coming talks and to the hard-liners back home. |
| “First, we need to gain something from the Americans, before we pose and smile with them,” said Hamid-Reza Taraghi, an official who is one of the few trusted to interpret the speeches of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Of course, Mr. Rouhani also needed to convince some at home that he is not making any wild moves.” | “First, we need to gain something from the Americans, before we pose and smile with them,” said Hamid-Reza Taraghi, an official who is one of the few trusted to interpret the speeches of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Of course, Mr. Rouhani also needed to convince some at home that he is not making any wild moves.” |
| American officials played down the matter, saying it would have no effect on the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. One senior official hinted it was too early for the Iranians to meet at a presidential level, saying it would be “too complicated” for Iran’s new leader. | American officials played down the matter, saying it would have no effect on the negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. One senior official hinted it was too early for the Iranians to meet at a presidential level, saying it would be “too complicated” for Iran’s new leader. |
| Analysts say that Mr. Rouhani and his team might have felt that meeting Mr. Obama before nuclear negotiations had even started would be a tactical mistake, undermining Mr. Rouhani’s position as Iran’s ultimate dealer, and that might in turn hurt his ability to step in at a later stage to break any potential logjams. | Analysts say that Mr. Rouhani and his team might have felt that meeting Mr. Obama before nuclear negotiations had even started would be a tactical mistake, undermining Mr. Rouhani’s position as Iran’s ultimate dealer, and that might in turn hurt his ability to step in at a later stage to break any potential logjams. |
| But Mr. Rouhani has to approach negotiations in a strategic sense as well, carefully managing domestic political constituencies as he approaches negotiations with the West. | But Mr. Rouhani has to approach negotiations in a strategic sense as well, carefully managing domestic political constituencies as he approaches negotiations with the West. |
| From the cheers of the hard-liners, it appears that Mr. Rouhani’s decision was a good one. “Mr. Rouhani made a very important and wise decision not to meet Mr. Obama, " said Amir Mohebbian, who is a political adviser to several Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Khamenei. “This will be a long process. We need above everything rationality first, not sentiments.” | From the cheers of the hard-liners, it appears that Mr. Rouhani’s decision was a good one. “Mr. Rouhani made a very important and wise decision not to meet Mr. Obama, " said Amir Mohebbian, who is a political adviser to several Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Khamenei. “This will be a long process. We need above everything rationality first, not sentiments.” |
| Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, the leader of the armed forces, said, “Mr. President showed the explicit, revolutionary and firm positions of the Iranian nation to the world,” the Asr-e Iran Web site reported Wednesday. | Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, the leader of the armed forces, said, “Mr. President showed the explicit, revolutionary and firm positions of the Iranian nation to the world,” the Asr-e Iran Web site reported Wednesday. |
| “The respected president’s speech had a domestic message as well. He said that we not only must tolerate our opponents, but also we must work with them,” said General Firouzabadi, who in recent years has repeatedly threatened to have his forces close the Strait of Hormuz, the gateway to the oil-rich Persian Gulf. | “The respected president’s speech had a domestic message as well. He said that we not only must tolerate our opponents, but also we must work with them,” said General Firouzabadi, who in recent years has repeatedly threatened to have his forces close the Strait of Hormuz, the gateway to the oil-rich Persian Gulf. |
| Some hard-liners even had kind words for President Obama, particularly his mention of a decree against nuclear weapons issued by Ayatollah Khamenei, something that they feel legitimizes the supreme leader internationally. Mr. Obama also warned that Mr. Rouhani’s “conciliatory words will have to be matched by actions that are transparent and verifiable.” | Some hard-liners even had kind words for President Obama, particularly his mention of a decree against nuclear weapons issued by Ayatollah Khamenei, something that they feel legitimizes the supreme leader internationally. Mr. Obama also warned that Mr. Rouhani’s “conciliatory words will have to be matched by actions that are transparent and verifiable.” |
| “Obama’s speech had a different tone, with different ideas,” Gholam Ali Hadad Adel, a former head of Parliament who is related to Ayatollah Khamenei by marriage, was quoted as saying by the semiofficial Fars new agency on Wednesday. “This shows that American officials are trying to change their image.” | “Obama’s speech had a different tone, with different ideas,” Gholam Ali Hadad Adel, a former head of Parliament who is related to Ayatollah Khamenei by marriage, was quoted as saying by the semiofficial Fars new agency on Wednesday. “This shows that American officials are trying to change their image.” |
| A potentially more important meeting than any between the two presidents is planned for Thursday, when Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, talks with representatives of world powers in New York, including Secretary of State John Kerry — the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that both countries would be talking even on the level of foreign ministers. | A potentially more important meeting than any between the two presidents is planned for Thursday, when Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, talks with representatives of world powers in New York, including Secretary of State John Kerry — the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution that both countries would be talking even on the level of foreign ministers. |
| “First, we have our foreign ministers talk,” Mr. Mohebbian said. “At a later stage our leaders can always meet, but Tuesday was too early.” | “First, we have our foreign ministers talk,” Mr. Mohebbian said. “At a later stage our leaders can always meet, but Tuesday was too early.” |
| Many Iranians, while disappointed that the leaders did not meet, said they understood the long and painful history between the countries and did not expect change to come overnight. | Many Iranians, while disappointed that the leaders did not meet, said they understood the long and painful history between the countries and did not expect change to come overnight. |
| “Both men spoke really well, and in a positive tone that we haven’t heard before, said Mohammad Heydari, a building constructor from Isfahan, a city in central Iran. “If they go on like this, there will be reconciliation in some months, I am sure.” | “Both men spoke really well, and in a positive tone that we haven’t heard before, said Mohammad Heydari, a building constructor from Isfahan, a city in central Iran. “If they go on like this, there will be reconciliation in some months, I am sure.” |
| Others shared his optimism. “I am happy and hopeful,” said Mehdi Mohammadi, 27, a teacher. “They are taking appropriate steps. It doesn’t matter what is said on the podium of the U.N. What matters is what is said in the talks with the world powers.” | Others shared his optimism. “I am happy and hopeful,” said Mehdi Mohammadi, 27, a teacher. “They are taking appropriate steps. It doesn’t matter what is said on the podium of the U.N. What matters is what is said in the talks with the world powers.” |
| But not all were optimistic. “I guess the honeymoon ended before it even really started,” said a 30-year-old engineer who asked not to be named. “Had they shook hands, everything would have been easier in the future; it would have moved the goal posts.” | But not all were optimistic. “I guess the honeymoon ended before it even really started,” said a 30-year-old engineer who asked not to be named. “Had they shook hands, everything would have been easier in the future; it would have moved the goal posts.” |
| Mr. Rouhani has to move slow and carefully, said Saeed Laylaz, an economist who advises the government. He pointed out that during the two terms of President Mohammad Khatami, changes took place too soon, antagonizing Iran’s more conservative leaders. | Mr. Rouhani has to move slow and carefully, said Saeed Laylaz, an economist who advises the government. He pointed out that during the two terms of President Mohammad Khatami, changes took place too soon, antagonizing Iran’s more conservative leaders. |
| “We know our youths want to see changes fast,” Mr. Laylaz said. “But they have to be patient so we can bring lasting change.” | “We know our youths want to see changes fast,” Mr. Laylaz said. “But they have to be patient so we can bring lasting change.” |