Talking to IRNA, he said despite pressures exerted by the extremist members of the US Congress, President Barack Obama believes in working out a win-win strategy with regards to Iran’s nuclear issue.
Referring to the composition of the new Iranian cabinet, he said President Hassan Rohani’s appointments have given a fresh chance to diplomacy to move onward, having created positive capacities in the US Secretary of State John Kerry and his team working on Iran.
On the views expressed by President Rohani on Iran’s foreign policy, Pickering said his remarks on talks with Washington and the ways to settle the existing disputes with the US were quite remarkable especially when he said Tehran was ready to remove international concerns about its nuclear program while safeguarding its national interests.
He said this positive attitude on the part of the new Iranian President indicates that the process of sending signs has already started.
He hoped that the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting would serve as an opportunity for Iranian and US leaders to hear the views of the other party.
Commenting on sanctions against Iran, the former diplomat said the Congress, influenced by its strong internal anti-Iran lobby, is not fully aware of the outcomes of its decisions.
He believed President Obama is not in favor of increasing sanctions at a time when diplomatic hopes are growing.
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