Obama may meet with Iran’s Rouhani
Both will be at UN General Assembly
WASHINGTON The presidents of America and Iran may meet briefly next week for the first time, marking a symbolic but significant step toward easing their countries’ tense relationship. An exchange of letters between the leaders already has raised expectations for a thaw in relations, and any progress in dismantling Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile could signal whether their elusive diplomacy will last longer than a handshake.
At the heart of the U.S.-Iran impasse is a years-long dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“Negotiations with the Iranians is always difficult,” U.S. President Barack Obama said in a recent interview. “I think this new president is not going to suddenly make it easy.”
Both Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will be in New York next week for the annual meeting of the UN General Assembly. The White House hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a direct exchange.
Obama has long said he would be open to discussions with his Iranian counterparts if Tehran shows it is serious about curbing its nuclear program.
Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and that it is enriching uranium to levels needed for medical isotopes and reactor fuel. But Western powers, including the U.S., fear Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.
Whether any headway is made on the nuclear issue could hinge on how the U.S. and Iran handle negotiations to dismantle Syria’s vast chemical weapons stockpile. Iran is the chief benefactor to Syria, where an Aug. 21 chemical weapons attack on Damascus suburbs killed as many as 1,400 people, according to U.S. and Western intelligence agencies.
Robert Einhorn, who left the State Department in May after serving as special adviser for arms control and a negotiator on the talks with Iran, said the nuclear discussions could dissolve if the Syria plan fails.
“I think the American public, the American Congress would say, ‘ Oh, you’ve got to be kidding. Look what happened last time. The Syrians weren’t serious; do you think the Iranians are serious about diplomacy?”’ Einhorn, now at the Brookings Institution, said last week.
“On the other hand, if you had a good deal, if the current efforts resulted in the end of Syria’s chemical weapons program … I think this could have very positive implications on prospects of diplomacy and willingness to take a risk on diplomacy in the case of Iran.”