But when the US walked out of the 2015 nuclear deal in May, undoing the centrepiece of Rouhani’s strategy, the “diplomatic sheikh” suddenly looked fatally exposed. “The problem with Rouhani is that he had no plan B,” a journalist for Iran’s state television told AFP. “In fact, attracting foreign investment was his Plan A, B, C and D. Now, he’s a lame duck president.”– Missing billions –Even when the nuclear deal was intact, it never worked quite as hoped. “Every president has made the same promises to create hope but once elected they don’t do anything. He can no longer afford to maintain his conciliatory approach to the US… though he must also keep an eye on Europe to salvage what’s left of the JCPOA (nuclear deal),” said Tabatabai.

Source: The Guardian August 04, 2018 12:22 UTC