Rouhani settles into a more 'normal' UN routine
On his third trip to the UN as Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani is eclipsed by Pope Francis, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the deaths of hundreds of Iranian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
NEW YORK — Overshadowed by the pope, Vladimir Putin and a tragedy in Mecca that called him home early, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani attracted less attention at the annual UN General Assembly meeting than he has in previous years.
This was in part a reflection of the progress that has been made in resolving one of the world’s chronic crises — the Iranian nuclear program. The recent conclusion of a landmark agreement between Iran and major world powers has put that issue aside for most of the world for the time being.
Instead, the focus at the General Assembly has turned to other issues, particularly the war in Syria. In several public appearances, Rouhani appeared to double down on support for the Syrian regime, arguing that combatting terrorism — in particular the group that calls itself the Islamic State (IS) — must be the world’s No. 1 priority. While he acknowledged during an appearance Sept. 27 before a large group of academics, think-tankers and journalists that political reform in Syria might be necessary, he said this could only happen “after we succeed” in defeating IS.
Rouhani did not mention Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by name, however. The Iranian leader referred instead to “the government in Damascus.” He also said that he detected a change in Western opinion about Syria in recent months. The idea of changing the Syrian regime quickly “no longer has that many fans, even in the West,” Rouhani said, because of the territorial advances of IS and other terrorist groups.
