TEHRAN, Iran — If Hassan Rouhani is going to endorse direct talks with the United States, he gave no hint of it on Aug. 6 in his first press conference as Iranian president.
Pressed by foreign and local reporters to clarify his position on negotiations with the United States and on the nuclear issue, Rouhani resorted to generalities — saying he supported dialogue and a “win-win” resolution — plus veiled accusations against Israel for allegedly imposing its views on the United States.
The newly minted president’s caution is understandable given the fact that he was inaugurated only two days ago (Aug. 4), and that parliament must confirm his cabinet — which includes a half dozen US-educated technocrats and veterans of prior reformist and centrist governments. Already, there has been sniping from hard-line columnists that some of the nominees backed opposition candidates Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi in the disputed 2009 elections. Both men have been under house arrest for more than two years, and the wounds left by those elections have yet to heal.
Rouhani’s remarks also reflected pique and disappointment that US President Barack Obama has so far not formally congratulated Rouhani on his election on June 14. Instead, the White House and State Department have repeatedly congratulated “the Iranian people” for their large turnout and surprise support for Rouhani, the least hard line among the six candidates running.
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