Tehran - Washington, Rouhani aims to restart direct flights
Tehran (AsiaNews
/ Agencies) - If the phone calls between Barack Obama and Hassan Rouhani continue
along the lines of that of Friday 27 September, the Iranians residing in
America will soon be able to fly to Tehran without having to make stopovers . "President
Rouhani asked to explore the possibility of a direct flight between Iran and
the United States - Akbar Torkan , head of the Supreme Council for Iranian
expatriates reported yesterday - the decision is intended to facilitate the
return home of our countrymen who
live in America. "
In
the wake of the encouraging dialogue initiated at the UN in recent days and the
historic phone call with U.S. President Barack Obama , Ayatollah Hassan Rouhani
(who returned to Iran September 28 ) asked officials to study the
rehabilitation of the Tehran - Washington flight, which has been closed for the
last 34 years. The
measure, the news of which was broadcast by Iranian agencies yesterday
afternoon, aims to facilitate contacts with the homeland to over 400 thousand
Iranians residing in the United States .
Returning
from the General Assembly of the United Nations , Hassan Rouhani was greeted
with enthusiasm at Mehrbad airport in Tehran, where hundreds of supporters
gathered to express contentment and approval before the resumption of
diplomatic dialogue with Washington. Among
the crowd outside the terminal however were also some young critics, especially
from the ranks of radical Islamist groups, many of whom tried to express disappointment
chanting slogans such as "Death to America ."
Statements
supported by leaders of the Revolutionary Guards who are trying to stop the
wave of enthusiasm that is sweeping up the international press and the most
moderate of the population : "U.S. hostility can not be forgotten with a
phone call or a smile ," said general
Amir -Ali Hadjizadeh , commander in chief of the Pasdaran .
In
addition to the debate within the international community, the will for
dialogue expressed by the president is receiving mixed reactions within Iran
itself . If
a good portion of the population, oppressed by the sanctions imposed on the
country since 2006, hopes that the resumption of relations with the West could
lead to significant economic benefits, the staunchest Islamic front ,
consisting of the Guardians of the Revolution, continue to show skepticism and disapproval.
In
the days prior to Rouhani's departure for New York, the Supreme Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei had ordered the same Pasdaran not to interfere with the foreign policy
of President -elect , the latter suggesting a line of " heroic flexibility
" in the talks at the ' UN . The
Supreme Leader had echoed the same Rouhani , asking the Guardians of the
Revolution " stay out of politics and be a force for peace ."
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28/07/2016 09:32
10/05/2024 16:08
