The Guardian- When the Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, is sworn in again on Saturday, the EUs foreign policy chiefFederica Mogheriniand ministers from Britain, France and Germany will be in Tehran to watch; an indication ofhow far relations with the west warmedin his first term. Yetashe embarks upon his second, he may feel the chill.
Despite defeating his conservative rival by a landslide in Mays elections, opposition is ranged against him at home and abroad. The great domestic uncertainty he faces supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is 78 and without aclear successor is for now overshadowed by Donald Trumps threat to pull out of the landmark nuclear deal signed in 2015.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors its implementation, says Iran is complying with the requirements to curb its nuclear programme and accept inspections in return for sanctions relief. But Mr Trump has vowed to overturn the Obama administrations stand-out foreign policy achievement. He has twice signed the sanctions waiver, but with extreme reluctance. He has asked aides to find a way to ditch the deal and says he expects Iran to be declared non-compliant next month. Officials say it has breached the pactin spirit.