Rouhani Prepares Ground for Compromise

On January 4, President Hassan Rouhani began preparing the public for a compromise on Iran’s controversial nuclear program. The country's ideals “are not linked to centrifuges but to our heart and determination,” he said in remarks to a conference of 1,500 economists in Tehran. He emphasized the importance of a deal for Iran’s economy, which has been cut off from world markets by layers of sanctions by the United States, European Union, United Nations and others. “Our political life has shown we can't have sustainable growth while we are isolated.” Iran’s negotiators are scheduled to resume talks on January 15 with the world’s six major powers in Geneva.

At the conference, Rouhani also suggested occasionally putting important economic, social and cultural issues to a direct referendum instead of to a vote in parliament. He stopped short of referring to a vote on a potential nuclear deal. But a public referendum could help his administration bypass hardline lawmakers who oppose a compromise. If, however, Rouhani was referring to Article 59 of the constitution, two-thirds of parliament would need to first approve the vote in the first place. The following are excerpts from Rouhani’s speech.
 
Nuclear Deal and Economy 
 
“Our ideals are not linked to centrifuges but to our heart and determination. If we show more transparency and say, halt some of the enrichment operation we don’t need, does it mean we have let go of our ideals?”
 
“Negotiations are about bridging interests."
 
“Our political life has shown we can't have sustainable growth while we are isolated.”
 
“It’s been the economy that pays for the politics. It would be good for once to act in reverse and have internal politics and foreign policy pay for the economy.”
 
“We want a sustainable, comprehensive and continued development. It is not possible to say we want economic development but want to be politically restrictive.”
 
Opening up the outside world “doesn’t mean letting go of the nation’s ideals and principles.”
 
“The time is past when it used to be said that if a foreign investor comes to Iran, our independence will be in danger.”
 
“The economy won’t prosper with monopolies, if something is exclusively in the hands of a specific group this will lead to corruption. All government entities must bring transparency to their economic activities.”
 
“It [the economy] must be freed of insider speculation, be transparent, all people must be aware of the statistics. If we can bring transparency to our economy, we can fight corruption.”

Referendum 
 
“On a crucial matter that affects all of us and our livelihoods, let's ask people's opinion directly, just for once.”
 
“It will be good to, after 36 years, even for once, or even every 10 years if we implement this principle of the Constitution, and put important economic, social and cultural issues to a direct referendum instead of to the Parliament.”
 
Taxes
 
Rouhani seemed to indicate support for a resolution passed by parliament in December to tax organizations overseen by the supreme leader and the armed forces.
 
“We are trying to tax everyone across the board, but as soon as we touch this or that institution, they make such a stink about it.”
 
“Of course this government will do what it deems in people's interest. Just be aware that in some cases, the domestic political lobby is very strong, very strong, more than you think.”
 
*Remarks as reported by the Los Angeles Times, Fars News, Bloomberg, Iranian Students News Agency, the BBC, VOA, AP and AFP