Rouhani faces major challenges as Iran's new president (2)

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Rouhani faces major challenges as Iran's new president (2)

By Xinhua writers Yang Dingdu, He Guanghai (Xinhua) 10:02, August 04, 2013

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NUCLEAR STANDOFF

To ease the sanctions, Rouhani will have to at least break the deadlock of the nuclear talks with P5+1 (five permanent members of the UN security council plus Germany).

The 64-year-old was considered a shrewd and pragmatic negotiator over the country's nuclear issue with the West (2003- 2005). Criticized by some conservative hardliners as a compromising diplomat, Rouhani insisted that "we must have our nuclear program, but not at the cost of suffering a lot."

However, Rouhani does not have the final say on the country's controversial nuclear program. Observers believe that Iran's supreme leader is the one who make final decisions on the nuclear policy. In addition, the elite Islamic Revolution Guards Corps ( IRGC), also a close ally to Khamenei, has significant influence on outlining the country's strategic security policies.

To increase his influence on nuclear talks, Rouhani needs a competent chief negotiator. "The person he chooses to be the chief nuclear negotiator with P5+1 is even much more important than a minister," Zibakalam said.

The next chief negotiator should share Rouhani's moderate views on nuclear negotiation while carrying the confidence and trust of the Supreme Leader, he added.

Earlier this week, local media said the president-elect has specified "probable" nominees for 17 positions in his cabinet and administrative offices and will "probably" introduce them soon.

Among the nominees specified is Mohammad Forouzandeh, a member of Iran's Expediency Council for 2007-2012 and an IRGC member, as the head of the Supreme National Security Council, semi-official ISNA reported Monday.

However, Zibakalam believes that Ali-Akbar Velayati, who competed with Rouhani in the presidential election in June, is the only person who can be both trusted by the leader and capable of making deals with the world powers.

Velayati serves, currently, as an advisor to the supreme leader on foreign relations while maintaining close ties with former moderate President Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani and Rouhani.

Both Iran and the world powers have shown interest in fresh nuclear talks. The last round of negotiations was held in Almaty of Kazakhstan on April 6 with no practical results achieved.