Skip to main content

Iranian official: US 'wants everything' in nuclear deal

The US-Iranian nuclear talks in Oman have provoked different reactions in Tehran, with some hoping for the success of the talks and others predicting imminent failure.

(L-R) Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, EU envoy Catherine Ashton, Omani Foreign Minister Yussef bin Alawi and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pose for a photo in Muscat November 9, 2014. Zarif began talks with Kerry and Ashton in Oman on Sunday to try to advance efforts to end a standoff over Tehran's nuclear program, a witness said. REUTERS/Nicholas Kamm/Pool (OMAN - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTR4DF4P
(L-R) Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, EU envoy Catherine Ashton, Omani Foreign Minister Yussef bin Alawi and US Secretary of State John Kerry stand in Muscat, Nov. 9, 2014. — REUTERS/Nicholas Kamm

“Will it work this time?” asks my taxi driver in Tehran. He’s not the only one asking about the fate of the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1. Everyone in this city wants to see the end of the tunnel. Yet, there are those who want to see the light and others who prefer to not see anything.

“A deal with the US will have a negative impact on the future of the Islamic revolution,” Majid, a law student, tells me. “We know their ways — they did it with the USSR, and now they are looking to use it with Iran.” This conservative student is just as concerned and suspicious about a nuclear deal with the United States as some of his colleagues are hopeful for a happy ending. Ali, another university student, who calls himself a religious man, says there’s a need for consensus. "We need to engage with the world," he says. "We need to try this alternative. Iran is a great country, but it’s not easy to continue this way."

Subscribe for unlimited access

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more

$14 monthly or $100 annually ($8.33/month)
OR

Continue reading this article for free

All news, events, memos, reports, and analysis, and access all 10 of our newsletters. Learn more.

By signing up, you agree to Al-Monitor’s Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Already have an account? Log in