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| Iranian President Is Hemmed In by Hard-Liners and New Western Sanctions | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| TEHRAN — More than a year ago, Iranians danced in the streets, celebrating the surprise victory of a new president who campaigned on promises of more freedom, better relations with the outside world and an end to biting sanctions. Many hoped a new era in the Islamic republic had arrived. | TEHRAN — More than a year ago, Iranians danced in the streets, celebrating the surprise victory of a new president who campaigned on promises of more freedom, better relations with the outside world and an end to biting sanctions. Many hoped a new era in the Islamic republic had arrived. |
| Now, well into the second year of Hassan Rouhani’s presidency, reality has sunk in. Those on the streets have returned to shoulder-shrugging, hoping that at least some of Mr. Rouhani’s promises will be fulfilled. As has often been the case over the last decade, the president has found himself embroiled in rear-guard actions with hard-liners who control most power centers in the country. | Now, well into the second year of Hassan Rouhani’s presidency, reality has sunk in. Those on the streets have returned to shoulder-shrugging, hoping that at least some of Mr. Rouhani’s promises will be fulfilled. As has often been the case over the last decade, the president has found himself embroiled in rear-guard actions with hard-liners who control most power centers in the country. |
| On the streets of the middle class neighborhood of Yousef Abad, where lawyers live next to poets and the sidewalks are lined with ice cream shops and stationary stores, the hope of the 2013 election is still alive, although many say they have seriously toned down expectations. | On the streets of the middle class neighborhood of Yousef Abad, where lawyers live next to poets and the sidewalks are lined with ice cream shops and stationary stores, the hope of the 2013 election is still alive, although many say they have seriously toned down expectations. |
| “I am not expecting any miracles,” said Nader, a toy store owner who did not give his family name in order to be able to speak freely. “Things just don’t change that easily in Iran.” | “I am not expecting any miracles,” said Nader, a toy store owner who did not give his family name in order to be able to speak freely. “Things just don’t change that easily in Iran.” |
| On Saturday, Mr. Rouhani held a news conference that suggested relations with the West had not changed as much as many had expected. It came a day after the Obama administration imposed sanctions on several Iranian organizations, including one managed by a scientist who is believed to direct research on building nuclear weapons. The White House said the new measures were part of its effort to squeeze groups and individuals trying to violate or circumvent existing sanctions. | On Saturday, Mr. Rouhani held a news conference that suggested relations with the West had not changed as much as many had expected. It came a day after the Obama administration imposed sanctions on several Iranian organizations, including one managed by a scientist who is believed to direct research on building nuclear weapons. The White House said the new measures were part of its effort to squeeze groups and individuals trying to violate or circumvent existing sanctions. |
| “Yes, of course, we bypass the sanctions,” Mr. Rouhani said. “We believe they are illegal and crimes against humanity.” | “Yes, of course, we bypass the sanctions,” Mr. Rouhani said. “We believe they are illegal and crimes against humanity.” |
| Iran is engaged in international talks over its nuclear program, and while the new sanctions will not derail that effort, Mr. Rouhani said, “they undermine one of the main pillars of the nuclear talks: confidence and trust.” He called the United States the biggest obstacle to finding agreement in the international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. | Iran is engaged in international talks over its nuclear program, and while the new sanctions will not derail that effort, Mr. Rouhani said, “they undermine one of the main pillars of the nuclear talks: confidence and trust.” He called the United States the biggest obstacle to finding agreement in the international negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. |
| Mr. Rouhani adopted a notably tougher stance toward the United States in his comments. After speaking with President Obama by phone last year, which helped jump-start the nuclear talks, Mr. Rouhani said that he was not sure whether he would go the United Nations General Assembly next month, and had no plans to meet with Mr. Obama if he did attend. | Mr. Rouhani adopted a notably tougher stance toward the United States in his comments. After speaking with President Obama by phone last year, which helped jump-start the nuclear talks, Mr. Rouhani said that he was not sure whether he would go the United Nations General Assembly next month, and had no plans to meet with Mr. Obama if he did attend. |
| Similarly, after floating the idea of cooperating with the United States to address the chaos in Iraq — an idea that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, quickly shot down — Mr. Rouhani said on Saturday that he had no intention of working with the Americans on the issue. He even accused the United States of creating terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and others in order to destabilize and divide the region, echoing a popular sentiment within the Iranian leadership. | Similarly, after floating the idea of cooperating with the United States to address the chaos in Iraq — an idea that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, quickly shot down — Mr. Rouhani said on Saturday that he had no intention of working with the Americans on the issue. He even accused the United States of creating terrorist groups like Al Qaeda and others in order to destabilize and divide the region, echoing a popular sentiment within the Iranian leadership. |
| “Study must be made on how these terrorist groups were formed,” he said, adding “We haven’t seen any serious determination” from the United States “to fight terrorism.” | “Study must be made on how these terrorist groups were formed,” he said, adding “We haven’t seen any serious determination” from the United States “to fight terrorism.” |
| Many in Iran say that, like presidents before him, Mr. Rouhani is being blocked from carrying out his polices, particularly on the domestic front. | Many in Iran say that, like presidents before him, Mr. Rouhani is being blocked from carrying out his polices, particularly on the domestic front. |
| “They are not allowing him to carry out his work,” said Abolfazl Ale Ahmad, 69, a retired office worker. “They,” he said, are the loose alliance of hard-line clerics and commanders who have clipped the wings of several presidents over the last 15 years, using their interpretation of Islamic ideology to block social changes. “All presidents hit a glass ceiling very quickly, they lack the power to take on their opponents,” he said. | “They are not allowing him to carry out his work,” said Abolfazl Ale Ahmad, 69, a retired office worker. “They,” he said, are the loose alliance of hard-line clerics and commanders who have clipped the wings of several presidents over the last 15 years, using their interpretation of Islamic ideology to block social changes. “All presidents hit a glass ceiling very quickly, they lack the power to take on their opponents,” he said. |
| The limits of an Iranian president’s power is well-defined by law. Mr. Rouhani is the highest elected official in the country, he oversees state budgets (but not all), and — among other tasks — signs agreements with other countries (which need to be ratified by Parliament). | The limits of an Iranian president’s power is well-defined by law. Mr. Rouhani is the highest elected official in the country, he oversees state budgets (but not all), and — among other tasks — signs agreements with other countries (which need to be ratified by Parliament). |
| On all important matters, including the nuclear issue, foreign policy and social rules and regulations, Iran’s president needs to take advice from other centers of power. That includes Ayatollah Khamenei, the judiciary and Parliament. | On all important matters, including the nuclear issue, foreign policy and social rules and regulations, Iran’s president needs to take advice from other centers of power. That includes Ayatollah Khamenei, the judiciary and Parliament. |
| Still, backed by millions of votes, Iranian presidents have the power to set a political tone. Mr. Rouhani has typically advocated moderation. Critics accuse him of giving away too much ground in the nuclear talks with world powers, which started in November 2013, and they insist that he has no right to alter Iran’s social laws. | Still, backed by millions of votes, Iranian presidents have the power to set a political tone. Mr. Rouhani has typically advocated moderation. Critics accuse him of giving away too much ground in the nuclear talks with world powers, which started in November 2013, and they insist that he has no right to alter Iran’s social laws. |
| “Many of the president’s promises have not been very well considered,” said Hamid Reza Taraghi, an influential hard-line political analyst. “He promised things that his office has no jurisdiction over.” | “Many of the president’s promises have not been very well considered,” said Hamid Reza Taraghi, an influential hard-line political analyst. “He promised things that his office has no jurisdiction over.” |
| But his fights with hard-liners are merely postponing the arrival of more social freedoms, supporters of the president promise. | But his fights with hard-liners are merely postponing the arrival of more social freedoms, supporters of the president promise. |
| “At least he has been doing better than those before him,” said Saeed Laylaz, an economist and adviser to the government, pointing to the fierce responses Mr. Rouhani has made to his critics. | “At least he has been doing better than those before him,” said Saeed Laylaz, an economist and adviser to the government, pointing to the fierce responses Mr. Rouhani has made to his critics. |
| “He is taking brave stances, and has delivered as much as any president can deliver in Iran,” Mr. Laylaz said. | “He is taking brave stances, and has delivered as much as any president can deliver in Iran,” Mr. Laylaz said. |