Rouhani recently fiercely attacked the hardliners, and defended his policy of détente with the outside world. While supporting Rouhani’s view, Khamenei responded that the only exceptions are Israel and the United State, emphasizing that he believes that the U.S. will continue its enmity toward Iran and, thus, negotiations with it is useful only for resolving the nuclear dispute, which “was decided to be continued by the foreign ministry.”

Khamenei took this position in order to prevent any talk between Rouhani and President Obama in New York, even at the level of a phone conversation, like last year. The arrest of the Washington Post’s reporter Jason Rezaian should be seen in this context. In another blow to Rouhani, Ghoncheh Ghavami, an Iranian-British citizen who had gone to soccer stadium to watch a game has been arrested, and charged with “propaganda against the state,” which has prompted many to protest her arrest.

In late September Rouhani attended the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. While he was in New York, the judiciary executed a political prisoner, Mohsen Amir Aslani. In a press conference there he was asked about Rezaian, Ghavami, and the leaders of the Green Movement, former Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi and his wife Dr. Zahra Rahnavard, and former Speaker of the parliament Mehdi Karroubi, who have been under strict house arrests for over 1300 days. Rouhani is well aware that, without Khamenei’s support, he will not be able to address the nuclear dispute with the West and the terrible state of the economy and, thus, he is not willing to respond such questions firmly and criticize the hardliners. In response to the question about the state of human rights in Iran he said, “The report by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran cannot be the basis for assessing the situation. If you travel to Iran and talk to the people, you will find out that the social and political situation differs from the past. The issue of human rights in any nation must be considered in the context of its culture.”

The response by Rouhani, a legal scholar, was disappointing. One cannot cast doubt on respect for human rights, a universal value, by resorting to “cultural relativism.”  There is no such thing as Western or Eastern, religious or non-religious human rights. Iran has signed the universal declaration of human rights, and is obligated to respect and carry out its provisions. But, Rouhani is entrapped by Khamenei and the hardliners.

Khamenei is of the belief that the Islamic Republic is similar to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirate, Jordan, and even the pre-revolution Iran, countries ruled by undemocratic regimes that commit gross violations of human rights, but have no problem with the outside world. What Khamenei does not recognize is that these countries are strategic allies of the United States in many of which the U.S. keeps military bases, and that after being supporters of many extremist Sunni groups, they now have allied to confront the same groups.

Khamenei cannot constantly chant anti-Israel and anti-U.S. rhetoric and slogans, and expect to resolve the nuclear dispute. Even if President Obama wants a deal with Iran really badly, he cannot resist the pressure by the Congress and Israel’s lobby and has been forced to impose on Iran the most crippling economic sanctions in history, if Khamenei does not stop his rhetoric.

The first necessary step for strengthening the hands of Iran’s nuclear negotiation team and resolving the nuclear dispute is for Khamenei to stop his hollow anti-Israel and anti-U.S. rhetoric that has only harmed Iran. But, Iran cannot become powerful without democratization, and improving its sorry state of human rights. Foreign policy of a country is a reflection and continuation of its domestic policy and only a democratically elected government can be a true defender of a country’s national interest. Iran has never been similar to Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Middle East, and will never be. And, while according to Vice President Jose Biden Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Turkey have contributed to the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, they are still allied with the United States because they avoid antagonizing the U.S. publicly, while Khamenei continues hollow rhetoric against the U.S. and Israel.

The leaders of the Green Movement have been under strict house arrest for over 1300 days. No charges have been made against them, and the hardliners have no intention of putting them on trial. Their house arrest has not benefited Khamenei, as the popularity of the trio is at an all-time high level. Releasing all the political prisoners will of course create a very positive image of Iran worldwide. Iran will be a powerful nation only when it is democratic and respects human rights.

Akbar Ganji is an Iranian investigative journalist and dissident. He was imprisoned in Tehran from 2000 to 2006, and his writings are currently banned in Iran. This article was translated by Ali N. Babaei.

Image: Iran president website.