Iranian president says post-Trump easing with US can be ‘easy’



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November 25, 2020

“Thank God, the American people and the people of our region have got rid of his disease [rule]”Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in an expression of relief at the departure of his American counterpart, Donald Trump, from the White House in January. In his fierce diatribe broadcast on state television on November 25, Rouhani blamed the defeat. of Trump in part of his “bad policies” and “racist conduct”.

“The worst of crimes in American history was committed by this man against independent nations, especially Iranians,” added Rouhani, accusing Trump of “terrorist” and “savage” acts against Iran during the coronavirus pandemic. .

Prior to the US election, Rouhani and his administration adhered to the official line that Iran recognizes no difference between a Trump re-election or a victory by Democrat Joe Biden. However, Rouhani said he believes “a solution to the problem is easy” if the Biden administration shares the “resolution to ease tensions and comply with international obligations”.

Rouhani was referring to the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump withdrew from, but which President-elect Biden is expected to reinstate. “Both Iran and the United States can decide to go back to where they were before January 20, 2017” (the first day of the Trump presidency) when Iran and the other signatories were pursuing the multilateral agreement. “The next steps could come later,” Rouhani said, hinting at the possibility of future US-Iran talks.

The Iranian president’s comments drew a clear line from a speech by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei the day before, when he seemed utterly disappointed by the “negotiations that got us nowhere.” Khamenei suggested that “neutralizing sanctions” through “perseverance and initiative” might work more effectively than negotiations. “We cannot trust foreigners and hope for relief from them,” he added.

Although the Rouhani government would never have been allowed to sign the nuclear deal without Khamenei’s approval, the supreme leader’s fervent loyalists, who are proud to call themselves “interested”, have been harsh critics of the deal from the start. general, and negotiations with Washington in particular.

However, Rouhani appeared oblivious to those “concerns” as he counts the days until the post-Trump era. This will give Rouhani just a few months as president to bail out a dying deal he has invested in as his key outcome, as he cannot stand for Iranian presidential election again next year.

The moderate president now expects Biden’s team to “condemn” Trump’s approach and make up for his “mistakes”. However, in a change from previous statements, and in an attempt perhaps to make de-escalation even smoother, Rouhani did not seek compensation from the incoming US administration for the economic damage inflicted on Iran under the policy of “maximum pressure. “of Trump.

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