TEHRAN, Iran — Ever since 1979, when Iran’s relations with the United States started to deteriorate following the Islamic Revolution, there have been numerous attempts — by both sides — to resolve differences. The latter includes Iran’s previous efforts to free American hostages in Lebanon, and also, collaboration with Washington on the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. Ultimately, these efforts were unsuccessful in changing the dynamic of the US-Iran relationship.

Iran’s supreme leader, who once allowed Iranian diplomats to engage with the United States on the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, more recently again authorized Iranian technocrats to engage with US counterparts on another important issue: the nuclear negotiations with six world powers, which covertly started in Oman and eventually led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Before the nuclear agreement was concluded, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had repeatedly stated that he does not oppose negotiations with the United States on the nuclear issue. Moreover, in one speech, he hinted that if the experience of nuclear negotiations with the Americans was positive, the possibility of further talks on other issues could also be entertained.

Indeed, it has been under the presidency of Hassan Rouhani that this consent has been granted. Rouhani is a pragmatic and moderate politician who once acted as the main facilitator for the 2003-2005 nuclear negotiations between Iran and the European Union. Those talks produced some interim agreements but eventually failed to reach conclusion in the shadow of opposition by the United States. The Reformist administration of Mohammad Khatami, which had greatly invested in those negotiations, was hurt by their inconclusive results. Indeed, this had a very important impact on the 2005 presidential election, which brought the radical administration of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power.