Iran hard-liners warn Rouhani, Zarif to avoid Trump in New York
Iran's conservatives are keeping a close eye on President Hassan Rouhani's UN General Assembly visit, warning him not to engage with American officials.
"Mr. Rouhani! Stand firm!" Iranian hard-line daily Kayhan advised President Hassan Rouhani, reminding him that Iran is the "creditor" in its dispute with the United States. "With a strong and affirmative speech, the president should elucidate … the black record of the Great Satan," the paper wrote, insisting that this was the Iranian public's expectation.
In its Sept. 25 editorial, Kayhan referred to the recent terrorist attack on a military parade in the southwestern city of Ahwaz that left at least 25 people dead. The paper suggested that Rouhani should tell the world about the alleged US support for the perpetrators of the attack.
A harsher stance, however, came from a lawmaker who has not wasted any chance to hit out at the Rouhani government. Conservative politician Javad Karimi Ghodousi squeezed the president and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to publicly announce that no talk or meeting would take place between the Iranian and the US sides whatsoever, "be it accidental, planned or over the phone."
Below the tweet, comments are still pouring in as users continue to debate whether it is within a lawmaker's jurisdiction to address the president that way and in that tone.
