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Facing Hard-Liners and Sanctions, Iran’s Leader Toughens Talk Facing Hard-Liners and Sanctions, Iran’s Leader Toughens Talk
(35 minutes later)
TEHRAN — For more than a year, Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, had been walking a tightrope by trying to restore relations with the country’s archenemy, the United States. His hard-line opponents pelted him with eggs, but those who voted for him hoped for a possible thaw. TEHRAN — For more than a year, Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, had been walking a tightrope by trying to restore relations with the country’s archenemy, the United States. His hard-line opponents pelted him with eggs, but those who voted for him hoped for a possible thaw.
Mr. Rouhani, a Shiite cleric nicknamed the ‘diplomatic sheikh’ here because of his skills in dealing with foreigners, even held a historic phone call with President Barack Obama, later saying he found him polite and intelligent. Since then he has publicly pleaded to explore open discussions and at least some cooperation with the United States. Mr. Rouhani, a Shiite cleric nicknamed the “diplomatic sheikh” here because of his skills in dealing with foreigners, even held a historic phone call with President Obama, later saying he found him polite and intelligent. Since then he has publicly pleaded to explore open discussions and at least some cooperation with the United States.
But on Saturday Mr. Rouhani struck a starkly different tone, making him sound more like the conservatives who have long criticized him for being too soft on the United States.But on Saturday Mr. Rouhani struck a starkly different tone, making him sound more like the conservatives who have long criticized him for being too soft on the United States.
In a news conference on the occasion of being over a year in office, Mr. Rouhani echoed the long- standing Iranian viewpoint that the United States can never be trusted. In a news conference on the occasion of being in office for more than a year, Mr. Rouhani echoed the long- standing Iranian viewpoint that the United States can never be trusted.
Not only did he rule out any cooperation on fighting regional terrorist groups like the fiercely anti-Iranian Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, he also hinted that America’s actions were responsible for creating the group, as well as Al Qaeda and the Taliban, a mantra among the Iranian leadership. Not only did he rule out any cooperation on fighting regional terrorist groups like the fiercely anti-Iranian Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, but he also hinted that America’s actions were responsible for creating the group, as well as Al Qaeda and the Taliban, a mantra among the Iranian leadership.
He criticized the United States for not taking action on the militants when Syrians were being killed, and only taking steps when it felt Americans and their interests were threatened. “Now they say: “we want to defend our embassy and consulate in Iraq; this is not fighting terrorism,” he said. “The Americans should be ashamed of their words.” He criticized the United States for not taking action on the militants when Syrians were being killed, and only taking steps when it felt Americans and their interests were threatened. “Now they say: “We want to defend our embassy and consulate in Iraq; this is not fighting terrorism,” he said. “The Americans should be ashamed of their words.”
In the complicated world of Iranian politics, it is difficult to know if Mr. Rouhani’s statements — his toughest on the United States in a year — represent a shift in his thinking or are tailored to a domestic audience where hard-liners have been criticizing him harshly for months.In the complicated world of Iranian politics, it is difficult to know if Mr. Rouhani’s statements — his toughest on the United States in a year — represent a shift in his thinking or are tailored to a domestic audience where hard-liners have been criticizing him harshly for months.
It is also possible the speech was a tactical move to strengthen Iran’s position before renewed talks on Iran’s nuclear program.It is also possible the speech was a tactical move to strengthen Iran’s position before renewed talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
Mr. Rouhani’s statements came just a day after the Obama administration imposed new sanctions on Iran, blacklisting 30 people and entities it said are linked to the country’s nuclear program.Mr. Rouhani’s statements came just a day after the Obama administration imposed new sanctions on Iran, blacklisting 30 people and entities it said are linked to the country’s nuclear program.
In a statement, the White House said the sanctions were a continuation of its strategy to crack down on groups suspected of seeking to avoid or violate existing sanctions, even as “the United States remains committed” to striking an accord by late November that includes “a long-term, comprehensive solution that provides confidence that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.”In a statement, the White House said the sanctions were a continuation of its strategy to crack down on groups suspected of seeking to avoid or violate existing sanctions, even as “the United States remains committed” to striking an accord by late November that includes “a long-term, comprehensive solution that provides confidence that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.”
But the sanctions appeared to upset Mr. Rouhani.But the sanctions appeared to upset Mr. Rouhani.
“Yes, of course, we bypass the sanctions,” Mr. Rouhani said during his news conference. “We believe they are illegal and crimes against humanity.”“Yes, of course, we bypass the sanctions,” Mr. Rouhani said during his news conference. “We believe they are illegal and crimes against humanity.”
He added that for relations to improve, the United States must make the first move.He added that for relations to improve, the United States must make the first move.
“Our people distrust Americans,” he said. “It would be better if Americans could do something that could help to build some trust in the future. Unfortunately, their moves only deepen distrust.”“Our people distrust Americans,” he said. “It would be better if Americans could do something that could help to build some trust in the future. Unfortunately, their moves only deepen distrust.”
And although he was one of the political stars of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September, hobnobbing with international leaders who had long shunned Iran, he said Saturday that he had not yet decided whether he would make the trip to the United Nations headquarters in New York. “And I have no plans to meet with Mr. Obama,” he added.And although he was one of the political stars of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September, hobnobbing with international leaders who had long shunned Iran, he said Saturday that he had not yet decided whether he would make the trip to the United Nations headquarters in New York. “And I have no plans to meet with Mr. Obama,” he added.
The historic phone call between the two men came after last year’s United Nations session and started a temporary nuclear agreement in November, under which some parts of Iran’s nuclear program were suspended, along with some sanctions against Iran.The historic phone call between the two men came after last year’s United Nations session and started a temporary nuclear agreement in November, under which some parts of Iran’s nuclear program were suspended, along with some sanctions against Iran.
Mr. Rouhani’s statements come after months in which Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has stepped up his criticism of the United States and said he is pessimistic that the nuclear talks and direct talks with the United States will lead to anything.Mr. Rouhani’s statements come after months in which Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has stepped up his criticism of the United States and said he is pessimistic that the nuclear talks and direct talks with the United States will lead to anything.
Some analysts said Mr. Rouhani’s angry tone might be aimed at pre-empting criticism from influential hard-liners who are seemingly waiting for the right moment to attack the government. Already some hard-liners are calling for an end to the talks because of the new sanctions.Some analysts said Mr. Rouhani’s angry tone might be aimed at pre-empting criticism from influential hard-liners who are seemingly waiting for the right moment to attack the government. Already some hard-liners are calling for an end to the talks because of the new sanctions.
Even some of his most optimistic supporters are beginning to say there will be no thaw in relations any time soon. “At least the nuclear talks will continue,” said Mojgan Faraji, a journalist for pro-Rouhani media. “But relations between Iran and America seem almost impossible now.”Even some of his most optimistic supporters are beginning to say there will be no thaw in relations any time soon. “At least the nuclear talks will continue,” said Mojgan Faraji, a journalist for pro-Rouhani media. “But relations between Iran and America seem almost impossible now.”
Developments in the region have suggested the United States and Iran have increasingly parallel interests, with both countries against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Iran has supported the Iraqi-Kurds and played an important role in persuading Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to give up his bid for a third term, a move the United States supported. Developments in the region have suggested the United States and Iran have increasingly parallel interests, with both countries against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Iran has supported the Iraqi Kurds and played an important role in persuading Nuri Kamal al-Maliki to give up his bid for a third term as Iraq’s prime minister, a move the United States supported.
“Still we are not Germany or Turkey, who can work with the U.S.,” said Saeed Laylaz, an economist and government adviser. “In the end we do not have any normal relations with each other.”“Still we are not Germany or Turkey, who can work with the U.S.,” said Saeed Laylaz, an economist and government adviser. “In the end we do not have any normal relations with each other.”
Hard-liners are saying they feel vindicated by Mr. Rouhani’s statements on Saturday.Hard-liners are saying they feel vindicated by Mr. Rouhani’s statements on Saturday.
“President Rouhani was realistic today; finally he realized that our supreme leader has been right all the time in his pessimism over the U.S. intentions,” said Hamid Reza Taraghi, a hard-line political analyst with good connections in the office of Ayatollah Khamenei. “Today it is clear that there is only one voice in Iran and that is the voice of Mr. Khamenei.” “President Rouhani was realistic today; finally he realized that our supreme leader has been right all the time in his pessimism over the U.S. intentions,” said Hamid Reza Taraghi, a hard-line political analyst with good connections in the office of Ayatollah Khamenei. “Today it is clear that there is only one voice in Iran, and that is the voice of Mr. Khamenei.”