Rouhani says Iran has 'serious will' to make a deal on nuclear program

Rouhani says Iran has serious will to make a deal on nuclear program - The Washington Post "We are ready" to make a deal, Rouhani said. "Of course, this is a long and winding and difficult road. However, if we remain serious and keep the will, we can push through." The words echo the cautious tone of both President Obama -- who gave a deal a 50-50 chance of success last month -- and Secretary of State John F. Kerry. Rouhani's statements about Iran's nuclear ambitions were also familiar. "I strongly and clearly declare that nuclear weapons have no place in our security strategy and that Iran has no motivation to move in that direction," Rouhani said in a brief address that was followed by questions from a moderator. Rouhani would not be specific about whether he would make any outreach to Israel, and was vague about what Iran might do to help resolve the civil war in Syria. Iran's exclusion from the convening of United Nations-backed peace talks on Syria this week briefly shifted world attention away from the long-running nuclear dispute. The United States had opposed Iran's inclusion in the Syria talks and accuses Iran of prolonging the war. But it was clear this week that the finger-pointing was a sideshow to the nuclear negotiations that both nations see as the highest foreign policy priority. Iran's tweeting, status-updating president also had some perhaps unwelcome news for his growing digital audience: He doesn't write his own stuff. Rouhani told journalists later Thursday that his frequent online postings are "written by my friends." He pledged "constructive engagement" with Iran's neighbors, a gesture of political outreach for a Mideast nation that officially considers Israel illegitimate and whose ambitions and influence have made many Arab neighbors nervous. Rouhani's main audience, however, seemed to be the throngs of top business executives who come to this Alpine gabfest. Iran could become one of the world's 10 largest economies over the next 30 years, Rouhani said. Iran is seeking an end to crushing economic sanctions that drastically reduced its oil exports and cut off Iran's access to much of the global financial system. Most of the sanctions will remain in place during negotiations on a final deal to curb the Iranian nuclear program. Rouhani's theme that Iran is "open for business" may be jumping the gun a bit, since U.S. officials estimate that existing sanctions will cost Iran $30 billion just in the six-month time frame for talks. But the prospect of freer flow of Iranian oil and cash is already yielding potential business deals. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not wait for his own address to the Davos forum Thursday to denounce Rouhani's remarks as opportunistic. "The goal of the Iranian ayatollahs' regime, which is hiding behind Rouhani's smiles, is to ease sanctions without conceding on their program to produce nuclear weapons," Netanyahu said in remarks distributed by his office.

The world must not "go astray after this deception" and let up pressure, which could allow Iran to build a bomb, Netanyahu said. Rouhani was elected with a mandate to try to strike a deal that could lift crushing economic sanctions imposed because of the country's disputed nuclear program. The kinder, gentler online face Rouhani presents appears part of an effort to explain the Iranian position more widely and win support for what Rouhani calls a pragmatic approach to resolving international doubts about the program. Rouhani's English-language Twitter account has been a key tool in the international charm offensive. Many Rouhani postings there and on Facebook are upbeat distillations of Iranian foreign policy clearly made for an overseas audience. His tweet wishing Jews a happy Rosh Hashanah made news last year, since it marked a U-turn from the derogatory remarks about Jews from Rouhani predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iran struck an interim bargain with world powers that eases some sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear program. A six-month deadline to reach a final deal began this month. Rouhani's Davos speech, which was broadcast live on Iranian state television just ahead of the daily news, echoed much of what Rouhani has said since taking office in August. Despite initial gains from his administration's diplomatic efforts, resulting in the interim nuclear that was implemented Monday, the success of Iran's image campaign seemed to stall in recent weeks, and Rouhani's Davos trip was intended to rekindle it. When the nuclear deal was struck in November , a parade of foreign -- mostly European -- investors began to trickle back into Tehran after years away, and the number of official and unofficial trade delegations continues to grow. But that real sense that Iran may step out of its long isolation is tempered by the Geneva II Syria conference and Iran's dis-invitation from it. Iranian leaders, including Rouhani's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has taken a tougher line than usual since the invitation was revoked, and this probably has more to do with placating hardliners at home than any plans to change course. Both the Rouhani and Obama administrations have gone to great lengths to keep the nuclear and Syrian issues separate, but that may not be possible for much longer as Iran's conservativedominated parliament begins to intertwine what many are calling a bad nuclear deal with the snub of not being allowed to take part in the Syria talks. That reception shows the weakness of Rouhani and his approach, the hardliners suggest.

Gearan reported from Montreux. Jason Rezaian in Tehran contributed to this report. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/rouhani-says-iran-has-serious-will-to-make-a-deal-on-nuclearprogram/2014/01/23/eb4ae534-843c-11e3-8099-9181471f7aaf_story.html