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Expert: Most difficult for Iran-US deal for Obama, Rouhani to overcome their domestic opposition

Iran Materials 8 October 2013 13:02 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 8 / Trend, S. Isayev

The most difficult obstacle to an Iranian-US deal that Obama and Rouhani have to overcome is their domestic opposition, Senior fellow at Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, James M. Dorsey told Trend.

"In the US its hardline conservatives in Congress. As a result, any constructive dialogue between parliamentarians could help to reduce mutual distrust and strengthen potential support for a deal," he underscored.

The expert was commenting on the recent developments in Iran-US relations. It should be noted that during the UN General Assembly meeting in NY, Barack Obama became the first US president since the 1979 Iranian revolution to speak with an Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, in a telephone conversation.

Later, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei hinted that he disapproves of the Rouhani-Obama phonecall, yet he supports Iranian president administration's foreign policy.

"The bottom line of Khamenei's remarks is that he endorsed Rouhani's style and approach but criticized the president's phone call with Obama," Dorsey said. "He didn't censor Rouhani nor did he interrupt the process that has been initiated. The onus is on Rouhani to produce results."

At the same time, there are certain groups in Iran that oppose Rouhani's stance on improving country's relations with the United States.

"Conservatives, including the Revolutionary Guards, in Iran distrust the United States. They also have a vested interest in continued hostility as well as the nuclear program," Dorsey said. "To defend their interests they will try to complicate if not obstruct the process."

"Much will depend on Rouhani's ability to cut a deal and the nature of that deal. Rouhani will have to be able to sell it as in Iran's interested and as in Iran's sovereign rights. His advantage is that he has public opinion on his side," the expert underscored.

Meanwhile, Israel doesn't seem to be very positive regarding the latest warmth in Iran-US relations. Last month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged President Barack Obama, during talks at the White House, to keep up tough sanctions on Iran until there is "verifiable success" that it had addressed Western concerns about its nuclear program.

Netanyahu noted that Iran has said it is committed to Israel's destruction and that recent overtures that it is willing to negotiate on its nuclear programme must be backed up with action.

Obama told Netanyahu it was important to the security of both nations that Iran not possess a nuclear weapon. Israel views a nuclear armed Iran as an existential threat and has not ruled out military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.

"Israel is trying to keep the pressure up on Iran to ensure that the military option is not taken off the table," Dorsey said. "Its ultimate position will depend on the nature of the agreement and the arrangements that are made to ensure that Iran does not pursue military capability."

The U.S. and its Western allies suspect Iran of developing a nuclear weapon - something that Iran denies. The Islamic Republic has on numerous occasions stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, using nuclear energy for medical researches instead.

Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in an interview to IRIB News a few days ago that the majority of Americans say that Iran's nuclear issue should be solved peacefully.

He mentioned a recent poll conducted in the US, according to which, 75 percent of the Americans believed in diplomatic and peaceful solutions to resolve the nuclear dispute, while several moths ago, the U.S. nation had different views on Iran.

"It is while several months ago, the American nation had different views," Zarif said.

Referring to the speech of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the UNGA, Zarif said Netanyahu and other warmongers were to ruin the chance of reaching an understanding.

Iran would not let them reach their goal and meddle in the process of nuclear talks, Zarif said.

The aim of the Israeli premier and other warmongers is not to let the talks reach breakthrough, said Zarif stressed "we don't let them achieve their goal."

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