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| Iran’s President Accuses West of Distorting Atomic Plans | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Portraying himself to be as tough as his domestic critics, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran criticized nuclear-armed powers on Wednesday, singling out the United States and Israel for what he described as false and hypocritical warnings about Iranian atomic ambitions. | Portraying himself to be as tough as his domestic critics, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran criticized nuclear-armed powers on Wednesday, singling out the United States and Israel for what he described as false and hypocritical warnings about Iranian atomic ambitions. |
| In a speech, Mr. Rouhani repeated his government’s claim that it neither covets nuclear weapons nor aspires to have them. That is a central issue in the prolonged international negotiations over Iranian nuclear activities, which Iran asserts are for purely peaceful purposes. | In a speech, Mr. Rouhani repeated his government’s claim that it neither covets nuclear weapons nor aspires to have them. That is a central issue in the prolonged international negotiations over Iranian nuclear activities, which Iran asserts are for purely peaceful purposes. |
| “They tell us, ‘We don’t want Iran to make atomic bombs’ — you who have made atomic bombs,” Mr. Rouhani said sarcastically. | “They tell us, ‘We don’t want Iran to make atomic bombs’ — you who have made atomic bombs,” Mr. Rouhani said sarcastically. |
| He also asserted that the nuclear weapons amassed by the United States and, he said, possessed by Israel, have done little to ease their worries about vulnerability to attack. | He also asserted that the nuclear weapons amassed by the United States and, he said, possessed by Israel, have done little to ease their worries about vulnerability to attack. |
| “Have you managed to bring about security for yourselves with atomic bombs?,” Mr. Rouhani asked rhetorically in his speech, according to a translation by Agence France-Presse. “Have you managed to create security for the usurper Israel?” | “Have you managed to bring about security for yourselves with atomic bombs?,” Mr. Rouhani asked rhetorically in his speech, according to a translation by Agence France-Presse. “Have you managed to create security for the usurper Israel?” |
| Israel’s government, which considers Iran one of its most worrisome adversaries, has repeatedly accused the Iranians of seeking nuclear weapons. At the same time, Israel has never officially acknowledged that it possesses nuclear weapons, only that it will “not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons in the Middle East.” | Israel’s government, which considers Iran one of its most worrisome adversaries, has repeatedly accused the Iranians of seeking nuclear weapons. At the same time, Israel has never officially acknowledged that it possesses nuclear weapons, only that it will “not be the first country to introduce nuclear weapons in the Middle East.” |
| The Arms Control Association, a research group in Washington, says Israel is believed to have 100 to 200 warheads. | The Arms Control Association, a research group in Washington, says Israel is believed to have 100 to 200 warheads. |
| Mr. Rouhani’s speech in the central city of Isfahan, widely reported by Iran state news media, was unusually abrasive for him, considering that he was elected in June 2013 partly on his pledge to ease the country’s deep economic isolation and resolve the nuclear dispute. | Mr. Rouhani’s speech in the central city of Isfahan, widely reported by Iran state news media, was unusually abrasive for him, considering that he was elected in June 2013 partly on his pledge to ease the country’s deep economic isolation and resolve the nuclear dispute. |
| The speech seemed tailored for a domestic audience to demonstrate a different message: that he has no fondness for the United States and that Iran can withstand the sanctions imposed by the West. | The speech seemed tailored for a domestic audience to demonstrate a different message: that he has no fondness for the United States and that Iran can withstand the sanctions imposed by the West. |
| Mr. Rouhani even took what appeared to be a gratuitous swipe at President Obama’s health care law and its troubled beginnings. Iran’s health insurance coverage, Mr. Rouhani said, covers everyone, while “you, in America, didn’t manage to resolve the health problem.” | Mr. Rouhani even took what appeared to be a gratuitous swipe at President Obama’s health care law and its troubled beginnings. Iran’s health insurance coverage, Mr. Rouhani said, covers everyone, while “you, in America, didn’t manage to resolve the health problem.” |
| The speech appeared to be part of an attempt to counter Iranian hard-liners who have suggested that Mr. Rouhani is too willing to compromise with the Americans on the nuclear issue after decades of hostility and mistrust. | The speech appeared to be part of an attempt to counter Iranian hard-liners who have suggested that Mr. Rouhani is too willing to compromise with the Americans on the nuclear issue after decades of hostility and mistrust. |
| It came against a backdrop of increasing skepticism in both countries over whether a compromise can be achieved. | It came against a backdrop of increasing skepticism in both countries over whether a compromise can be achieved. |
| Conservative Iranian lawmakers have proposed measures that could subvert the extension of an interim agreement that took effect last year, which has frozen much of the Iranian nuclear program while negotiators seek a permanent accord. | Conservative Iranian lawmakers have proposed measures that could subvert the extension of an interim agreement that took effect last year, which has frozen much of the Iranian nuclear program while negotiators seek a permanent accord. |
| Those negotiators, from Iran and the P5 plus one powers, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany, have given themselves until March 24 to reach the basics of a permanent agreement. | Those negotiators, from Iran and the P5 plus one powers, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany, have given themselves until March 24 to reach the basics of a permanent agreement. |
| Many senators in the United States, suspicious of Iran’s sincerity, have advanced a bill that would place more sanctions on the country should talks fail. | Many senators in the United States, suspicious of Iran’s sincerity, have advanced a bill that would place more sanctions on the country should talks fail. |
| But last week they agreed to delay a vote until after March 24, deferring to Mr. Obama’s argument that such a vote would sabotage the negotiations. | But last week they agreed to delay a vote until after March 24, deferring to Mr. Obama’s argument that such a vote would sabotage the negotiations. |