“The deal has the potential of transforming the relationship (between the USA and Iran), it’s not just a transactional agreement”, he said.
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The milestone might get a brief mention in US news reports, but most Americans won’t reflect much on what happened that day.
Nematzadeh’s announcement came a day after demonstrations across Iran marked the 36th anniversary of the storming of the United States embassy in Tehran by Islamist students, an act that plunged diplomatic relations with Washington into the deep freeze for decades.
“We have already started to take our measures vis-a-vis the removal of the centrifuge machines – the extra centrifuge machines”, Ali Akbar Salehi told Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, according to the Reuters news agency.
Iran’s Supreme Leader says his nation’s people are not threatening everyday Americans when they chant “Death to America”. “Secretary of State John Kerry are Facebook friends”, said Trita Parsi, founder and president of the National Iranian American Council.
“Anyone who hoped that Iran’s nuclear agreement with the United States and other powers portended a new era of openness with the West has been jolted with a series of increasingly rude awakenings over the past few weeks”, the Times noted. Iranian-American businessman Siamak Namazi and Lebanese-American Nizar Zakka have been taken hostage by regime operatives. They were bound by their parallel interests, which for the USA meant reaching a deal that would ensure Iran can’t develop a weapon while the Islamic Republic achieved relief from crippling economic sanctions. Dubbed the JCPOA, the accord would subject the parties to comply with a series of commitments, resulting in the termination of sanctions on Iran in exchange for certain restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear program during a defined period of time.
“Khamenei has to play a delicate game”, said Mehrzad Boroujerdi, a professor who follows Iranian affairs at Syracuse University.
Hardliners fear Rouhani’s efforts to ease tensions may pave the way for USA influence in Iran.
Iran’s parliament voted earlier this week to continue supporting “Death to America” rallies held across the country each Friday.
In what appeared to be a warning to opponents, President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday criticised recent arrests carried out in the name of the fight against “infiltration”. “The U.S.is one of Iran’s major enemies and this will have grave dangers for the country”, said the official statement explaining the decision. Iran will hold parliamentary elections in February, and the hard-liners are concerned about losing their majority.
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Truman and Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh of Iran wave during the latter’s visit to the United States, October 23, 1951.
