Rafsanjani blames the Supreme Leader for US-Iran impasse
Jul 13th, 2011
In an interview published today by the Iranian website “Iran Diplomacy”, the former President Rafsanjani declared that “the time has come to negotiate with US”. He recounted his presidency (1988-1997) and how he tried to reach out to the West but the Supreme Leader prevented the mush necessary rapprochement with the US
“In 1998 the war with Iraq has ended and Imam (Khomeini) has passed away. It was a pleasant time as leaders from around the world wanted to visit Iran. The taboos had been broken and many doors had become open.
Even the US was showing a new approach toward us. But our response to their overture was cold and bitter because we followed the Supreme Leader’s line of policy as he was against an overture toward the US.
But as far as I showed them some overture, the Americans responded positively. Probably, if we had also applied our European policy (diplomatic and economic overture) with US, we could have avoided many of our current problems.”
Rafsanjani’s today declarations are the harshest critic against the Supreme Leader’s policy with US expressed by an Iranian high official. This interview should be viewed in the context of international sanctions and isolation against Iran that according to many observers endangers the very existence of the Iranian regime.
Rafsanjani’s harsh words for the Supreme Leader is also a PR gesture toward the West to reconsider him and his faction as a viable partner for future.
