Saturday, October 5, 2013

Iran's Khamenei backs Rouhani's New York talks


Comments (65)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (centre) at the UN in New York, 26 September President Rouhani (centre) broke new diplomatic ground in New York

Iran under Rouhani

The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has endorsed overtures to the US made last month by President Hassan Rouhani in New York.
"We support the diplomatic initiative of the government and attach importance to its activities in this trip," he said on his website.
But he added that some of what had occurred "was not appropriate".
Mr Rouhani had spoken to US President Barack Obama by phone in a bid to ease tension over Iran's nuclear programme.
They were the first talks between Iranian and US leaders in more than three decades.

“Start Quote

Some of what happened on the New York trip was not appropriate”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iran wants the lifting of UN sanctions, which were imposed over concerns that it is seeking to build nuclear weapons clandestinely - an allegation Tehran denies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the leading advocate of a hard line against Iran over its nuclear programme, has dismissed Mr Rouhani as a "wolf in sheep's clothing".
'No trust' When Mr Rouhani returned from New York he was greeted at Tehran airport by hardline protesters chanting "Death to America".
BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson explained Ayatollah Khamenei's hold on power during the election in June
In his comments on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei said that "some of what happened on the New York trip was not appropriate", without being specific.
"We are pessimistic towards the Americans and do not put any trust in them," he said.
"The American government is untrustworthy, supercilious and unreasonable, and breaks its promises."
Substantive nuclear negotiations between Iran and international powers are due to take place on 15 October and Mr Rouhani has promised to bring a plan to the meeting.
He said he wanted to reach a deal over the nuclear issue in three to six months.
Iran's key nuclear sites
Key nuclear sites map
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  • +2

    Comment number 65.

    To the hardliners and ultra-conservatives of Israel, a progressive U-turn of Iran towards democracy, moderate Islam and democracy, is their worst nightmare.
    To the US is the best case scenario. And it is exactly the same for the Europeans and the rest of the world.
    Also, this is the only way for a solution to the Middle East problem.
  • +4

    Comment number 64.

    I think even Khamenei knows/realises the pointlessness of Ahmadinejad's uneducated rhetoric which got Iran nowhere. Rouhani is educated, a thinker and I believe (hope) will prove himself to the relief of all, particularly the Iranians themselves who have suffered a lot through sanctions. What we don't need now is Netanyahu stirring things up (at which he is ignominiously adept at any time).

  • Comment number 63.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
  • +4

    Comment number 62.

    The Iranians have no reason to trust the USA and the American government imposed sanction after sanction over the years not because there was evidence the Iranians were trying to gain a nuclear weapon but because politicans didn't have any accomplishments so they used a promise of santions for their campaign and that was one of the few campaign promises the neo cons could follow though on.
  • -7

    Comment number 61.

    The holy Willies are running scared and looking for an exit strategy, now that it looks like their nuclear aims are going to get them hammered either by the US or even better by the Israelis , whose patience must be running out and who don't take kindly to threats from Jihadists.
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