Khamenei Could Make Obama's Iran Deal an April Fool's Day Joke

It's April Fool's Day. Poisson d'avril for the French-speaking world. We Anglos play tricks on our friends. The French pin fish (poisson) silhouettes on the backs of their friends. ~~~~~ Now if you read my blog regularly, you know that I must be looking for an April Fool's Day joke to play on President Obama. But, the truth is that he played an early April Fool's Day joke on himself when he sent a video open letter to the people of Iran for Nowruz - their new year. It was a joke on himself because Obama seriously thought his words would be warmly received and have a positive influence on the Ayatollah, and notwithstanding that any Iranian dissent is swiftly and forcefully suppressed, Obama believed that his words would provoke a spontaneous uprising on the streets of Teheran. First, read Obama's message. Afterward, we will share the Iranian Ayatollah's responses. ~~~~~ PRESIDENT OBAMA: "Hello! To everyone celebrating Nowruz - across the United States and in countries around the world - Nowruz Mubarak. For thousands of years, this has been a time to gather with family and friends and welcome a new spring and a new year. Last week, my wife Michelle helped mark Nowruz here at the White House. It was a celebration of the vibrant cultures, food, music and friendship of our many diaspora communities who make extraordinary contributions every day here in the United States. We even created our own Haft Seen, representing our hopes for the new year. This year, that includes our hopes for progress between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the international community, including the United States. So I want to take this opportunity once again to speak directly to the people and leaders of Iran. As you gather around the Nowruz table - from Teheran to Shiraz to Tabriz, from the coasts of the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf - you’re giving thanks for your blessings and looking ahead to the future. This year, we have the best opportunity in decades to pursue a different future between our countries. Just over a year ago, we reached an initial understanding regarding Iran’s nuclear program. And both sides have kept our commitments. Iran has halted progress on its nuclear program and even rolled it back in some areas. The international community, including the United States, has provided Iran with some relief from sanctions. Now, our diplomats - and our scientists - are engaged in negotiations in the hopes of finding a comprehensive solution that resolves the world’s concerns with Iran’s nuclear program. The days and weeks ahead will be critical. Our negotiations have made progress, but gaps remain. And there are people, in both our countries and beyond, who oppose a diplomatic resolution. My message to you - the people of Iran - is that, together, we have to speak up for the future we seek. As I have said many times before, I believe that our countries should be able to resolve this issue peacefully, with diplomacy. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has issued a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons, and President Rouhani has said that Iran would never develop a nuclear weapon. Together with the international community, the United States has said that Iran should have access to peaceful nuclear energy, consistent with Iran’s international obligations. So there is a way for Iran - if it is willing to take meaningful, verifiable step - to assure the world that its nuclear program is, in fact, for peaceful purposes only. In this sense, Iran’s leaders have a choice between two paths. If they cannot agree to a reasonable deal, they will keep Iran on the path it’s on today - a path that has isolated Iran, and the Iranian people, from so much of the world, caused so much hardship for Iranian families, and deprived so many young Iranians of the jobs and opportunities they deserve. On the other hand, if Iran’s leaders can agree to a reasonable deal, it can lead to a better path - the path of greater opportunities for the Iranian people. More trade and ties with the world. More foreign investment and jobs, including for young Iranians. More cultural exchanges and chances for Iranian students to travel abroad. More partnerships in areas like science and technology and innovation. In other words, a nuclear deal now can help open the door to a brighter future for you - the Iranian people, who, as heirs to a great civilization, have so much to give to the world. This is what’s at stake today. And this moment may not come again soon. I believe that our nations have an historic opportunity to resolve this issue peacefull - an opportunity we should not miss. As the poet Hafez wrote, “It is early spring. Try to be joyful in your heart. For many a flower will bloom while you will be in clay.” For decades, our nations have been separated by mistrust and fear. Now it is early spring. We have a chance - a chance - to make progress that will benefit our countries, and the world, for many years to come. Now it is up to all of us, Iranians and Americans, to seize this moment and the possibilities that can bloom in this new season. Thank you, and Nowruzetan Pirooz." ~~~~~ Nice words -- but. In his Nowruz address, the Ayatollah Khamenei responded to Obama's message : “He [Obama] says in this message for you to come and accept our arguments; in reality the content and outcome of his argument is that he says in nuclear negotiations accept what we dictate to you so that in your country jobs are created, capital is created, so that economic activity runs in your country; it means this second approach. This approach is an approach which will never be successful.” Khamenei emphasised that Iran should pursue a resistance economy, whose key features include changing the banking structure to facilitate domestic investment, creation of a knowledge-based economy, support for small businesses, and encouraging Iranians to purchase domestic products, among others. He concluded his points on the economy by saying : “The sanction is the only tool of the enemy. The only tool of the enemy for confronting the Iranian nation is sanctions." Khamenei also denied that the US-Iran nuclear negotiations were about broader regional cooperation or anything else : “The negotiations with America is exclusively on the nuclear issue and nothing else.” Khamenei also said that Obama's remarks to the Iranian people "were not sincere." He also said Obama had claimed falsely that some people in Iran did not back a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear issue. What they are in fact resisting is the bullying approach of the United States, he reportedly said. The Ayatollah also insisted that the removal of sanctions should be part of the negotiations, not a step that only followed the implementation of a deal : "Iran will never accept this. This is the Americans' ploy. Removal of sanctions should be part of any agreement." ~~~~~ Dear readers, it is clear that the Ayatollah Khamenei is calling the shots in the Obama-led P5+1 negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. President Rouhani had no comment about Obama's Nowruz message except to say that he believes a deal is possible. But in Khamenei's speech, he lays out his goals -- end the sanctions, keep Iran separate from America, pursue Iran's nuclear program. Making his most direct comments about the Rouhani presidency and administration, Khamenei said he has supported every administration elected while he has been Supreme Leader -- a sideway show of support for Rouhani. But Khamenei explained the support on blunt terms : “I say without any reservation - I said it before - I supported all the administrations during the period of my responsibility; I also support this administration. Wherever it is necessary, I also give warning. Of course I give no one a carte-blanche." So, whatever comes from the negotiating table in Lausanne, only the Ayatollah Khamenei can say 'yes' -- or 'no.' And that may be the biggest April Fool's Day joke of all for Barack Obama.