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Iranian Hard-Liners Send Positive Signals on Talks

Something unusual has happened in the wake of the recent Iran nuclear talks in Istanbul: Iran hardliners have taken to the media and Friday prayers to put a positive gloss on the talks and signal interest in a compromise. Laura Rozen on reading the Tehran tea leaves.
EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to film or take pictures in Tehran.
Ali Akbar Velayati (L), Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's top adviser on international affairs, speaks with former Parliament Speaker Gholamali Haddadadel during a meeting of Conservatives at a mosque in Tehran, ahead of parliamentary election November 17, 2011. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi (IRAN - Tags: POLITICS)

Something unusual has happened in the wake of the recent Iran nuclear talks in Istanbul: Iran hardliners have taken to the Iranian media and Friday prayers to put a positive gloss on the talks and signal interest in a compromise.

Key figures from the Iranian regime—including the seldom-seen top foreign policy advisor to the Supreme Leader and the head of Iran's Guardian Council—have been strikingly upbeat in public pronouncements on the April 14th talks with the six nations that make up the so-called P5+1 group—the U.S., U.K., France, Russia, China and Germany. Iran watchers say those comments from a series of regime notables seem to form something of an orchestrated campaign, and could be a sign that Tehran is interested in striking a near-term compromise over curbing aspects of its nuclear work in exchange for averting new sanctions.

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