White House: If Rohani makes good on commitments, can mend ties
Obama's chief of staff comments on Rohani election, claims if new president makes good on campaign promises, UN decisions regarding nuclear program, ties between countries can be mended. Israeli analysts concerned moderate guise may do more harm than good
Denis McDonough, US President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff, has called Rohani's election a "potentially hopeful sign," and said that if the new president lived up to his obligation "to come clean on this illicit nuclear program, he will find a partner in us."
Related stories:
- US tells Iran to respect its people's will after election
- Moderate cleric Rohani wins Iran presidential election
- Peres: Khamenei 'biggest loser' in Iran election
Speaking to CBS's Meet the Nation, McDonough stressed that "If he (Rohani) is interested in, as he has said in his campaign, mending Iran's relations with the rest of the world, there is an opportunity to do that."
"We need him to live up to the obligations on the nuclear program. And if he does, I think there's a great opportunity for Iran and the people of that storied country to have the kind of future that they would, I think, justifiably want," McDonough reiterated.
Rohani's purple camp celebrates victory (Photo: MCT)
Obama's chief of staff also expressed satisfaction regarding the high voter turnout on the Iranian elections: "Notwithstanding the very difficult circumstances the Iranian people went to the polls under – lack of press freedom, lack of transparency, harassment in many cases – I think we should all be quite proud of the way that Iranians turned out to vote and to express their democratic views and aspirations."
Obama himself has yet to publically comment on the election results, but immedelaty after it was clear that Rohani, who is considered a moderate, had won, the White House issued a statement:"We respect the vote of the Iranian people and congratulate them for their participation in the political process, and their courage in making their voices heard. It is our hope that the Iranian government will heed the will of the Iranian people and make responsible choices that create a better future for all Iranians."
Victory celebrations (Photo: MCT)
The statement further added, "Even after the election, Iran will be judged by its actions in the areas of nuclear policy and terror. Iran must respect the international community's demands, halt its nuclear program and cease to spread terror around the world."
The will of the people (Photo: AFP)
In Israel, analysts were divided over whether the election would influence the Islamic Republic's nuclear program and whether having a moderate Iranian president might actually weaken Israel's military option by making it harder to confront Iran.
Meir Litvak, head of Iranian studies at Tel Aviv University, told Israel Army Radio that Rohani's "smiley face to the West" might make the option of military action less likely.
However, Eldad Pardo, an Iran expert at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, said he didn't believe Israel would worry about public approval if it decided nuclear action was needed. More important, he said, was whether the US and the UN nuclear agency can make progress with the new Iranian government.
"Generally speaking, I think that a different political culture in Iran is a good thing for Israel and it is good for Iran," he said.
Netanyahu's former security adviser, Uzi Arad, said that Rohani's taking over might be good for Israel.
Arad told Israel Radio that it was a good sign that millions of Iranians voted for a candidate who "explicitly spoke about acting to ease sanctions and strive for talks with the West."
Rohani received 50.68% of the country's popular vote (some 18.6 million votes) securing the minimum 50% needed to win the election without a second round.
In the past Rohani has criticized his processors – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – controversial forgiven policy, saying he would promote a more dovish stance with the world.
After his victory, Rohani said: "I was never a radical, I am for progress. I salute the victory of moderation over radicalism. This is a victory for intelligence, moderation and progress over radicalism. A real chance for change has been created for those interested in democracy and open dialogue.
AP contributed to this report
- Receive Ynetnews updates
directly to your desktop
