With less than two weeks before a deadline for a comprehensive nuclear deal, Iran’s regime is putting out mixed signals over the possibility of a resolution with the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia).
See also Iran Daily: Is No News Good News on the Nuclear Talks?
If you are hopeful that Tehran and the 5+1 can close the gaps on issues like enrichment of uranium and sanctions, you can rely on President Rouhani’s continued “win-win” talk:
I’m optimistic about a win-win situation. We have tried our best to reach an agreement and we have also modified our demands….
We emphasize once again that the fatwa of the Supreme leader [against nuclear weapons] is the best guarantee we can give to assure the peacefulness of our nuclear program.
There is the ever-present smile of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Having concluded two days of talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and the European Union’s Catherine Ashton, he counsels patience — just wait for another week, when Iran and the 5+1 Powers meet in Vienna, for further progress.
But then there is also the caution of Rouhani, who says that the Democratic Party of President Obama is trying to make up for their losses in Congressional elections last week by placing Iran under more pressure in the talks.
And Iran’s lead nuclear negotiator, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi — who said on Monday that “progress was still awaited” from the intensive discussions with the US and the EU — is vague: “With no doubt we will continue our enrichment program but the rate will depend on our practical needs”.
But what of the man who will make the final decision, the Supreme Leader?
If you’re an optimist, you might hold onto the Twitter offensive of his office on Monday on “Iranian Diplomacy” and “Why I Support the Nuclear Talks”, with slogans such as “Islamic Republic of Iran’s determination to close the nuclear dossier despite the enemy’s determination to prolong it”.
See Iran Feature: Supreme Leader on Twitter “Why I Support Nuclear Talks”
Why does Ayatollah Khamenei support the #NuclearTalks?
#Iran #IranTalksOman pic.twitter.com/awJ9OxTfOg
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 10, 2014
And isn’t it notable that Kayhan, the newspaper linked to the Supreme Leader and vehemently critical of the talks, has been silent the past two days?
However, if you’re a pessimist, you can point to his office’s Twitter offensive on Tuesday, condemning the US:
US,sole #nuclear criminal,that killed 1000s of Japanese claims to fight #nuke proliferation while it has done nothing serious abt it.4/17/10
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 12, 2014
If US didn’t lie abt fighting #nuke proliferation, would #Israel be able to turn #OccupiedPalestine to a nuke arsenal, refusing NPT? 4/17/10
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 12, 2014
The offensive concludes:
I stress that #Iran isn’t after #nukes but it’ll never give up its ppl’s right to use #nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.8/30/12
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 12, 2014
So is the Supreme Leader talking tough merely to cover the concessions that Iran, for economic reasons, will make to reach a deal?
Possibly, but in the meantime, others can talk even tougher and dismiss any need for a resolution. The commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ Aerospace Force, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, said on Tuesday:
We are not worried if no agreement is reached. We will continue our progress with all our forces and no country will have the courage for a military attack on Iran….
Sepah [the Guards] have built missiles which are capable of targeting Israel….The missile factory in Syria is built by Sepah.