Iran: programa nuclear continua, a despeito de todo o otimismo ocidental - entrevista Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Rafsanjani says final Iran deal could come within a year

By Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Lionel Barber and Roula Khalaf in Tehran

Financial Times, November 25, 2013

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, one of Iran’s most influential political leaders, has raised hopes of a comprehensive nuclear deal with world powers within a year.

In a rare interview with the Financial Times in Tehran, Mr Rafsanjani, 79, declared that Sunday’s interim deal was the hardest step because it meant overcoming decades of diplomatic estrangement with the US going back to the 1979 Islamic revolution.

“It was breaking the ice, the second stage will be more routine,” said the former two-term Iranian president, sitting serenely in his book-lined office in an elegant Tehran palace that once belonged to the late Shah, who was ousted in the revolution.

Many analysts in Tehran and Washington warn that the next phase of negotiations will be very difficult, partly because Israel continues to believe that Iran is covertly on course to develop a nuclear bomb and partly because of differing expectations in Tehran and western capitals about how much further ground Iran is prepared to give.

But Mr Rafsanjani was determinedly optimistic. “Part of it [the breakthrough] was because talking to the US was a taboo. That taboo could not be easily broken and nuclear talks could not move ahead without the US.”

He said Iran had no interest in developing nuclear weapons and dismissed Israeli threats of a military strike to curb its nuclear programme. “Israel is so small; no small fish can eat big fish.”

Mr Rafsanjani is leader of the so-called conservative pragmatists who have long argued against Iran’s international isolation, and were alarmed by the confrontational policies of the former hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad.

Western officials view Mr Rafsanjani as a barometer of the fractious Islamic regime’s willingness to adopt more pragmatic policies abroad.

In the interview, the top cleric, who heads the Expediency Council, which drafts policy, and wields considerable influence behind the scenes, referred to the ruinous damage to the economy wrought by sanctions and the populist policies adopted by Mr Ahmadi-Nejad.

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He expressed hope of a turnround in the economy in the next two years, especially if foreign investors come in and support sectors such as aviation, the oil and gas sectors, petrochemicals, shipping and railroads.

Despite being barred from running in the June presidential election (“ill-wishers did not let me run,” he says), Mr Rafsanjani struck an alliance with reformers that helped to catapult his ally Hassan Rouhani to the presidency.

But the more rational approach of Mr Rafsanjani, who has now seen many of his fellow “Rafsanjani-ites” appointed to Mr Rouhani’s administration, was vindicated. “The people recognised the way the country was run would not benefit them.”

He made clear that Iran has no intention of abandoning its nuclear programme, but rather intended to bring it in line with the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty that allows for the peaceful development of nuclear power.

This mirrors the view of the Iranian government, which would like to preserve its low-level uranium enrichment programme while providing sufficient assurances, through inspections and other forms of compliance, that it will not divert nuclear material for more sinister use.

“The limitations set by international laws are acceptable to us. The Non-Proliferation Treaty is acceptable to us. Anything more than that would be considered imposed on us.”

“The [Iranian] people recognised the way the country was run would not benefit them

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- Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, head of Iran’s Expediency Council

Mr Rafsanjani and his allies have been worried about growing tensions with Saudi Arabia, not just over the nuclear programme but also over Iran’s interference in various crises in the Arab world, particularly Syria.

Tehran has actively backed President Bashar al-Assad’s regime financially and militarily, while Saudi Arabia has supplied funds and weapons to the rebels. The stand-off between Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia has exacerbated sectarian strains across the region.

Mr Rafsanjani is one of the few Iranian political figures who has enjoyed good relations with Saudi leaders. In the interview, he said he was ready to travel to Riyadh and had been invited by King Abdullah to perform last month’s hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage. His intention would be “to reassure them [the Saudis] that friendship with Iran benefits the region and both countries.”

But he hinted that Iran’s leaders first needed to agree on policies of de-escalation. A future trip needed preparation and a decision within Iran on “how we are going to deal with [Saudi Arabia] in a win-win situation.”

Mr Rafsanjani acknowledged that Iran “can play a better role” in Syria than it is doing now, but said the fate of Mr Assad would ultimately be decided by Syrians.

“If the Syrian people accept it, it seems to be no problem [for Assad to step down]  . . .,” he said. “We have no right to interfere,” he added.

More

ON THIS STORY

• Gideon Rachman Obama v the Israel lobby
• Global Insight Deal wrongfoots Netanyahu
• Iran deal has its roots in secret US talks
• Gulf states cautiously welcome deal
• Interactive map Iran’s nuclear sites

ON THIS TOPIC

• Iran nuclear deal pushes oil prices lower
• Relief sweeps Tehran on nuclear deal
• Rouhani hails deal as a turning point
• Nick Butler Iran – the sanctions door opens

IN MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA

• Assad buoyed by Iran’s nuclear deal
• Hizbollah tightens grip in Syria
• US woos Russian support at Syrian talks
• Time for Obama to deploy his cunning

RELATED TOPICS

• Iran under Rouhani,
• United States of America,
• Hassan Rouhani

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