BBC News – Iran nuclear: Obama and Rouhani speak by phone
BBC News – Iran nuclear: Obama and Rouhani speak by phone.
Iran insists its uranium enrichment work is for nuclear energy onlyUS President Barack Obama says he has spoken by phone to Iran’s Hassan Rouhani – the first such top-level conversation in more than 30 years.
Mr Obama spoke of a “unique opportunity” to make progress with Iran’s new leadership, amid a flurry of diplomacy over its nuclear programme.
Earlier, Mr Rouhani said Iran was keen to reach a deal soon.
He also asserted that Iran did not seek a nuclear bomb, as Western powers have long suspected.
Describing meetings at the UN this week as a “first step”, he said he believed the nuclear issue could be settled “within the not too distant future”.
Mr Rouhani said initial discussions had taken place in an environment that was “quite different” from the past.
Hassan Rouhani’s actions in New York reveal a man dealing with the inherent, overwhelming contradiction of his job: he has a popular mandate without actual power.
In a speech given on 17 September in Tehran, Ali Khamenei approved the use of “heroic flexibility” in diplomacy. This would appear to translate as an instruction to President Rouhani: by all means see what you can get from the Americans, but don’t go around shaking Obama’s hand.
The ayatollah-approved outreach in New York included the first sustained direct talks between the US and Iran at foreign minister level for more than 30 years.
Hassan Rouhani may be able to recommend a deal, he may be able to explain how concessions are the best way to get sanctions lifted, and improve the lives of ordinary Iranians. But in the end, it is the supreme leader who will have the final say.
Mr Rouhani, who is regarded as a moderate and was elected in June, has said he wants to reach a deal over the nuclear issue in three to six months.
He says he is fully empowered by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to negotiate on the issue.
On Friday, he told a press conference at the UN: “I believe that whatever result we achieve through negotiations my government will have the full backing of all the main branches of power in Iran as well as the support of the people of Iran.”
And he said Iran was 100% supportive that a deal should be struck “within a very short period of time”.
‘Bomb is dangerous’
Earlier, the UN nuclear agency said it had held “very constructive” talks with Iran.
Herman Nackaerts, deputy director-general of the IAEA, did not give details of Friday’s talks, but said the two parties would meet again on 28 October.
“We will start substantial discussions on the way forward to resolving all outstanding issues,” Mr Nackaerts said.
Reza Najafi, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Agency (IAEA), was quoted as saying that the aim was to reach an agreement “as soon as possible” and also spoke of a “constructive discussion”.
Diplomats have spoken of a “significant shift” in Iran’s attitude.
There has been a flurry of meetings over Iran’s nuclear programme this week in New York, where the UN General Assembly is holding its annual meeting.
On Thursday US Secretary of State John Kerry held a rare meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Mr Kerry said he was struck by the “very different tone”, but added that Iran still had questions to answer.
There was speculation that Mr Rouhani might meet Mr Obama in New York. On Friday, Mr Rouhani said that “in principle we did not have any problems with having a meeting”, but “there was not sufficient time” for planning the encounter.
The Iranian president rebuffed questions about Iran’s reliability as a negotiating partner, saying his country wanted to retain nuclear technology but would submit to IAEA supervision.
“We say explicitly that we do not seek a bomb,” he said. “We say explicitly that we believe the building of a bomb is dangerous for us – for our region.”
The US and China have said they expect Iran to respond to an existing offer by the US, Russia, Britain, France, China and Germany, who form a negotiating group known as the P5+1.
The group has asked Iran to halt production and stockpiling of uranium enriched to 20% – a step away from achieving a nuclear weapons capability.
They also demanded Iran shut down the Fordo underground enrichment facility, near Qom.
Substantive talks between Iran and the P5+1 are due to take place on 15 October, and Mr Rouhani said Iran would bring a plan to that meeting, though he did not give details.
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WarSclerotic 
September 28, 2013 at 12:02 AM
looks like Israel is being sold out. chamberlain could have taken lessons from Obama in the fine art of appeasement. I never thought that a president will do anything to appease iran even after rouhani snub him ! the us may need knee pads.
September 28, 2013 at 12:24 AM
When is Israel going to accept the fact that they are on their own. The US will not defend or protect Israel. Stop being so sentimental, Those days are gone, stand on your own two feet and take care of business. Don’t use our weakness as an excuse for your own. Defend yourselves or perish.
September 28, 2013 at 12:57 AM
What a joke of a president we have. Has absolutely no idea how to handle foreign policy.
September 28, 2013 at 7:34 AM
Finally, the breakthrough we’ve all been waiting for. The only way to solve problems is by dialogue.
September 28, 2013 at 1:50 PM
Munich, 1938: When the meeting broke up at 1:30 am, noted Schmidt,”Chamberlain bid a hearty farewell to the Führer.” As he left the Dreesen, a newspaperman intercepted him to ask: “Is it hopeless, sir?” Chamberlain replied: “I would not like to say that. It is up to the Czechs now.” In other words, peace was possible unless the Czechs stubbornly insisted on defending their homeland.