Source: WBUR’s Here & Now
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on the nuclear negotiations with Iran has provoked strong responses in the United States. Speaking on WBUR’s Here & Now, Carnegie’s Karim Sadjadpour said that there was tremendous support for Netanyahu’s speech in Congress, which will make it harder for President Obama and Secretary Kerry to sell a deal in the United States, if one is reached. He added that while Netanyahu spoke about the nature of the Iranian regime and its support for radicalism, he did not propose any better alternatives to the nuclear deal.
Sadjadpour added that the Iranian people would find Netanyahu’s speech “deeply disappointing.” Iran is a young country and the majority of its population was born after the revolution, making its society “post-ideological, post-revolutionary… that aspires to be part of the outside world.”
For the radical elements in Iran, he added, Netanyahu’s speech was a “godsend.” Those radicals prosper in Iran’s political and economic isolation, and have been concerned about the prospect for a nuclear deal. Netanyahu’s speech was probably “quietly applauded” by hardliners in Iran, Sadjadpour concluded.
This interview was originally broadcast by WBUR’s Here & Now.