I spoke with Monocle 24’s The Briefing on Tuesday — before the speeches by Presidents Obama and Rouhani to the United Nations — about the prospects for an agreement over Iran’s nuclear program.

Listen to discussion from 5:48 on The Briefing homepage or in a separate pop-out window

The Obama and Rouhani statements (see separate analysis) did not change my assessment. Instead they reinforced it: “This is the best opportunity for an agreement since 2009.”

The reasons?

1. “To be honest, the movement has come from the Iranian side because the US hasn’t given up very much in the past three years.”

2. “There are two reasons. The first is the catalyst of President Rouhani, who wants moderation and dialogue. The second is that Iran has been under a great deal of economic pressure, and an agreement on the nuclear issue will relieve that pressure.

“So the Supreme Leader has given Rouhani political space.”

3. “Iran is not on the verge of a nuclear weapon, but it wants recognition of its right to enrich uranium.

“That deal is on the table. If this is a genuine two-way negotiation, then we can move forward. If the US wants it to be only one way — Iran makes all the moves — then these talks will go nowhere.”

4. “What may have shifted the American attitude is that they think a deal on the nuclear issue opens up space for a resolution of the Syrian crisis.”