Thursday, July 23, 2009
ANALYSIS-Iran's hardline leaders failing to stem discontent
Reuters, By Alistair Lyon, Special Correspondent (21/7/2009)
* Iran's post-election power struggle persists
* Turmoil dims prospects for nuclear dialogue with West
* Rafsanjani sermon emboldens opposition
* Khamenei faces unprecedented challenge to authority
"I fear Ahmadinejad's presence serves as an insurmountable obstacle to confidence-building with the United States," Carnegie's Sadjadpour said of the prospects for engagement.
"It's going to be impossible for Tehran to reassure us that its nuclear ambitions are purely peaceful as long as Ahmadinejad remains so outspokenly belligerent towards Israel." (Editing by Jon Hemming)
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The calm in the western Negev continues. Hamas refrains from firing rockets into Israel and its senior figures emphasize for Western ears its policy of restraint. Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha told a New York Times correspondent that “the fighters needed a break and the people needed a break.” According to the New York Times report, the decision to suspend rocket fire was “partly the result of popular pressure,” and occurred because people were questioning the value of the rockets, which they regarded as relatively ineffective. 
