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| Rouhani says Iran has ‘serious will’ to make a deal on nuclear program | Rouhani says Iran has ‘serious will’ to make a deal on nuclear program |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| DAVOS, Switzerland — Iran’s president said Thursday that his country has a “serious will” to reach a deal that resolves international doubts about its nuclear program but will not give up what he called peaceful technology or consent to rules that treat Iran differently than other nations with nuclear know-how. | |
| Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos as Iran enters six months of intensive talks with world powers over the bounds of a program that the United States, Israel and other nations suspect is aimed at building a nuclear bomb. His speech and a round of media interviews here continue a remarkable revamp of Iran’s image abroad, led by the smiling multilingual cleric who on Thursday called his political philosophy “prudent moderation.” | |
| “We are ready” to make a deal, Rouhani said. “Of course, this is a long and winding and difficult road. However, if we remain serious and keep the will, we can push through.” | “We are ready” to make a deal, Rouhani said. “Of course, this is a long and winding and difficult road. However, if we remain serious and keep the will, we can push through.” |
| The words echo the cautious tone of both President Obama — who gave a deal a 50-50 chance of success last month — and Secretary of State John F. Kerry. Rouhani’s statements about Iran’s nuclear ambitions were also familiar. | The words echo the cautious tone of both President Obama — who gave a deal a 50-50 chance of success last month — and Secretary of State John F. Kerry. Rouhani’s statements about Iran’s nuclear ambitions were also familiar. |
| “I strongly and clearly declare that nuclear weapons have no place in our security strategy and that Iran has no motivation to move in that direction,” Rouhani said in a brief address that was followed by questions from a moderator. Rouhani would not be specific about whether he would make any outreach to Israel and was vague about what Iran might do to help resolve the civil war in Syria. | “I strongly and clearly declare that nuclear weapons have no place in our security strategy and that Iran has no motivation to move in that direction,” Rouhani said in a brief address that was followed by questions from a moderator. Rouhani would not be specific about whether he would make any outreach to Israel and was vague about what Iran might do to help resolve the civil war in Syria. |
| Iran’s exclusion from the convening of United Nations-backed peace talks on Syria this week briefly shifted world attention away from the long-running nuclear dispute. The United States had opposed Iran’s inclusion in the Syria talks and accuses Iran of prolonging the war. But it was clear this week that the finger-pointing was a sideshow to the nuclear negotiations that both nations see as the highest foreign policy priority. | Iran’s exclusion from the convening of United Nations-backed peace talks on Syria this week briefly shifted world attention away from the long-running nuclear dispute. The United States had opposed Iran’s inclusion in the Syria talks and accuses Iran of prolonging the war. But it was clear this week that the finger-pointing was a sideshow to the nuclear negotiations that both nations see as the highest foreign policy priority. |
| Iran struck an interim bargain with world powers that eases some sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. A six-month deadline to reach a final deal began this month. | Iran struck an interim bargain with world powers that eases some sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. A six-month deadline to reach a final deal began this month. |
| The temporary deal does not guarantee that Iran can never build a weapon. | The temporary deal does not guarantee that Iran can never build a weapon. |
| Kerry appeared to acknowledge as much Thursday when he told an interviewer that Iran could subvert negotiations by making a drive for a weapon — just the scenario Israel warns of. But Kerry added a warning of his own. “If they do this, the military option is ready,” Kerry told al-Arabiya television, referring to U.S. capability to strike Iranian nuclear facilities if need be. | Kerry appeared to acknowledge as much Thursday when he told an interviewer that Iran could subvert negotiations by making a drive for a weapon — just the scenario Israel warns of. But Kerry added a warning of his own. “If they do this, the military option is ready,” Kerry told al-Arabiya television, referring to U.S. capability to strike Iranian nuclear facilities if need be. |
| Kerry addresses the Davos meeting Friday afternoon. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said no meeting is planned between Kerry and Rouhani or other members of his delegation. | |
| Rouhani was elected with a mandate to try to strike a deal that could lift crushing economic sanctions imposed because of the country’s disputed nuclear program. | Rouhani was elected with a mandate to try to strike a deal that could lift crushing economic sanctions imposed because of the country’s disputed nuclear program. |
| The kinder, gentler face Rouhani presents appears part of an effort to explain the Iranian position more widely and win support for what he calls a pragmatic approach to resolving international doubts about the program. | |
| Rouhani’s English-language Twitter account has been a key tool in the international charm offensive. | Rouhani’s English-language Twitter account has been a key tool in the international charm offensive. |
| But Iran’s tweeting, status-updating president also had some perhaps unwelcome news for his growing digital audience: He doesn’t write his own stuff. Rouhani told journalists later Thursday that his frequent online postings are “written by my friends.” | But Iran’s tweeting, status-updating president also had some perhaps unwelcome news for his growing digital audience: He doesn’t write his own stuff. Rouhani told journalists later Thursday that his frequent online postings are “written by my friends.” |
| Many Rouhani postings on Twitter and Facebook are upbeat distillations of Iranian foreign policy clearly made for an overseas audience. His tweet wishing Jews a happy Rosh Hashanah made news last year, since it marked a U-turn from the derogatory remarks about Jews from Rouhani’s predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. | Many Rouhani postings on Twitter and Facebook are upbeat distillations of Iranian foreign policy clearly made for an overseas audience. His tweet wishing Jews a happy Rosh Hashanah made news last year, since it marked a U-turn from the derogatory remarks about Jews from Rouhani’s predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. |
| Rouhani pledged “constructive engagement” with Iran’s neighbors, a gesture of political outreach for a Middle East nation that officially considers Israel illegitimate and whose ambitions and influence have made many Arab neighbors nervous. Rouhani’s main audience, however, seemed to be the throngs of top business executives who come to this Alpine gabfest. | Rouhani pledged “constructive engagement” with Iran’s neighbors, a gesture of political outreach for a Middle East nation that officially considers Israel illegitimate and whose ambitions and influence have made many Arab neighbors nervous. Rouhani’s main audience, however, seemed to be the throngs of top business executives who come to this Alpine gabfest. |
| Iran could become one of the world’s 10 largest economies over the next 30 years, Rouhani said. Iran is seeking an end to crushing economic sanctions that have drastically reduced its oil exports and cut off its access to much of the global financial system. Most of the sanctions will remain in place during negotiations on a final deal to curb the Iranian nuclear program. | |
| Rouhani’s theme that Iran is “open for business” may be jumping the gun a bit, because U.S. officials estimate that existing sanctions will cost Iran $30 billion just in the six-month time frame for talks. But the prospect of the freer flow of Iranian oil and cash is already yielding potential business deals. | |
| When the initial nuclear deal was announced in November, a parade of mostly European foreign investors began to trickle back into Tehran after years away, and the number of official and unofficial trade delegations continues to grow. | When the initial nuclear deal was announced in November, a parade of mostly European foreign investors began to trickle back into Tehran after years away, and the number of official and unofficial trade delegations continues to grow. |
| Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not wait for his own address to the Davos forum Thursday to denounce Rouhani’s remarks as opportunistic. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not wait for his own address to the Davos forum Thursday to denounce Rouhani’s remarks as opportunistic. |
| “The goal of the Iranian ayatollahs’ regime, which is hiding behind Rouhani’s smiles, is to ease sanctions without conceding on their program to produce nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said in remarks distributed by his office. | “The goal of the Iranian ayatollahs’ regime, which is hiding behind Rouhani’s smiles, is to ease sanctions without conceding on their program to produce nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said in remarks distributed by his office. |
| Netanyahu’s own Davos speech was devoted to advocating international business and manufacturing investment in Israel. | Netanyahu’s own Davos speech was devoted to advocating international business and manufacturing investment in Israel. |
| Gearan reported from Montreux, Switzerland. Jason Rezaian in Tehran contributed to this report. | Gearan reported from Montreux, Switzerland. Jason Rezaian in Tehran contributed to this report. |