A political analyst says following the inauguration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Tehran and Washington are now sizing each other up before engaging in any "substantive dialogue", Press TV reports.
In a Wednesday interview with Press TV, Stewart Stogel, with the Newsmax magazine, said he does not expect any “immediate breakthrough” in Tehran-Washington ties following an administration change in Iran.

According to the analyst, it is more likely that Iran and the US would “start slowly at first, and as each side gets to know one another a little bit better then [they] will move toward more substantive dialogue.”
“I think that the kind of dialogue you can expect, will take place over the next several months,” said Stogel, adding, “It is going to be a touch and feel situation between now and next summer.”
On August 6, Rouhani said during a press conference that the Islamic Republic is ready to hold talks with any country within the framework of Iran’s national interests.

The Iranian president added that Tehran is closely monitoring all measures taken by the US and will respond properly to Washington’s “practical and constructive” moves, stressing, “What is important for us is the US administration’s practical response and not statements.”

He urged the US to hear the Iranian nation’s message, saying “If we see that the US is serious in resolving the problems, we will also be serious.”

Rouhani made the remarks in response to an earlier White House statement about the US readiness to work with Tehran on the case of Iran’s nuclear energy program should Iran's new administration “choose to engage substantively and seriously.”

The US, Israel and some of their allies claim that Iran is potentially pursuing non-civilian goals in its nuclear energy program, with Washington and the European Union using the unfounded allegation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions on Iran.

Tehran has categorically rejected West's accusations, arguing that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Stogel further described Rouhani’s proposed foreign minister, Javad Zarif, as “extensively experienced both in New York and in Washington,” saying he will probably have a guiding role in a potential rapprochement between Iran and the US. Zarif served as Iran’s Permanent Envoy to the United Nations from 2002 to 2007.

By Press TV

 

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