Rouhani’s Trip to New York and the Hopes and Jokes on US-Iran Relations
President Rouhani’s trip to New York to attend the General Assembly meeting raised hopes among many Iranians and those who watch Iran-US relations as a historical and unprecedented moment in which a “triumphant wrestle” was taking place. This phrase was mentioned by the Supreme Leader before President Rouhani and his delegation’s trip to New York. Many analysts were excited about the emergence of a new chapter in Iran-US relations after 34 years. After all the direct communication between an Iranian and American president was an unparalleled event in 34 years. This news was groundbreaking and Iranians residing inside Iran and those living abroad were cheering over this event. Many jokes and texts were circulated in Tehran and on Facebook and Twitter regarding the phone call between Presidents Obama and Rouhani, the term “triumphant flexibility”, and the meeting between FM Javad Zarif and US FM John Kerry. Iranians were happy and hoped that this would set the stage for better US-Iran relations. For those living inside Iran this “diplomatic flexibility” promised economic change and the removal of sanctions, which people have been struggling with.
While President Rouhani was attending meetings in New York, the foreign currency rate dropped its value to the Iranian Rial inside Iran, fortifying a better economic condition. The media covered this historical breakthrough and the subsequent political atmosphere was reflected in the media outlets.
The jokes circulated by people inside Iran and also through social network websites brought about a new era in which people were expressing gratitude and admiration of the government’s novel trend in what may be a new beginning in Iran-US relations -though on a very limited and surface level.
An Iranian filmmaker wrote on his Facebook timeline page with sarcasm: “got teary eyed when I heard that Hassan and Hussein finally talked on the phone .....” Other comments on Facebook include: “Already 3700 people signed - you should too! Post card will be sent to the White House today! Thank President Obama for pursuing diplomacy with Iran and seeking a peaceful solution. And for his tweets. :)” There were many other links and photos posted on Facebook showing President Rouhani talking at the UN General Assembly and showing FM Zarif talking with FM Kerrry and many caricatures on President Obama and Rouhani talking on the phone. Another commentator on Facebook wrote: What an encouraging day!!!! Javad Zarif appeared quite upbeat after the 30 min chat with Kerry, which was quite visible. The P5+1 discussed the "parameters of the end-game" Zarif said, which is critical as the step-by-step process has suffered from a sense of direction without this conversation. A journalist wrote on his page that he asked the Iranian FM if he thought it was ironic that he enjoys posting on Facebook while his government bans the website in Iran. “Ha! Ha!” he laughed heartily. “That’s life.” Further jokes and reactions on Facebook revolved around the Israeli PM’s comment that if they (Iranian people)were truly free, they would be able to wear jeans, listen to Western music and participate in free elections. Many reacted on Twitter and said that Iranian youth are wearing jeans!
Inside Iran President Rouhani was praised and cheered for his diplomatic outreach and effort to break the US-Iran relations stalemate. President Rouhani was cheered by many supporters upon his arrival in Tehran. “Long live Rouhani, man of change!” said the president’s supporters, as a small police contingent struggled to control the crowd of about 200 who were supposedly mostly Rouhani supporters. It should not be denied that there were also backfire towards this reception by hardliners who condemned the government’s diplomatic outreach and after his arrival started criticizing the government’s engagement policy by shouting, “Our people are awake and hate America!”
The initial reactions to the Rouhani government’s approach were positive: even the conservative parliament supported the new diplomatic outreach of the Rouhani government as a chance to change Iran’s isolated image in the international community. Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani praised Rouhani's address to the UN General Assembly. A group of 230 parliamentarians, out of the total of 290, signed a statement expressing their support of Rouhani for presenting the image of a "powerful and peace-seeking Iran, which seeks talks and interaction for the settlement of regional and international issues”.
Newspapers and other media affiliated with the reformists and the Rouhani government magnified the government’s diplomatic performance. The front page of many of the daily publications showed a new phase in Iran-US relations with President Rouhani as a champion. These publications aimed to indicate that the Rouhani government succeeded to gain the Supreme Leader’s consent and eventually the right wing groups’ backing. The backing from the assembly, controlled by political factions deeply loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a further sign that Rouhani has the support of the Iranian establishment, though there were some reactions from hardliners.
Although the political reconciliation era between Iran and the US during President Rouhani’s visit to New York was quite short, due to the criticisms by hardliners on both sides the comments and posts on Facebook still show a sheer hope among people who were awaiting change. Most comments point to the Israeli lobby in the US and the Gulf countries as players, which intend to prevent this reconciliation from coming about. The comments and analyses suggest that while some significant steps have been taken during this trip, the normalization of US-Iran relations is a gradual process with many obstacles.