Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 12
By Khalid Kazimov - Trend:
A good chance to restore political ties between Washington and Tehran has been created following nuclear talks between Iran and world powers over the past two years, an Iranian political expert told Trend.
"I believe the chance should be seized," Davoud Hermidas-Bavand, an expert on international relations, told Trend Nov 12.
He further added that in addition to the talks, regional developments have also created common interests between Iran and the USA, therefore, both Tehran and Washington should make efforts to restore the ties.
"I believe that if we do not resolve our issues with the USA, we will have some difficulties," Bavand said.
Although President Rouhani's remarks will cause some critical domestic reactions, he should rationally take measures to gradually restore the ties, added Bavand.
On Nov 12 President Hassan Rouhani was quoted as saying that the nuclear agreement between world powers and Iran could lead to better relations between Tehran and Washington, and the eventual re-opening of embassies in both capitals, Reuters reported.
Rouhani said that the US must apologize to Iranians before diplomatic relations could be restored.
Political ties between Tehran and Washington ended following the 1979 hostage incident when a group of Iranian students stormed the US embassy in Tehran and captured 52 Americans, holding them for over one year.
In other developments, heading a high ranking delegation, President Rouhani will leave Tehran for Rome Nov. 14, at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella.
This is his first European visit as Iranian president, and he is the first Iranian president to travel to Europe in the past 10 years.