Reza Marashi, a top official with the National Iranian American Council, a group that supports the talks and has contacts with both the U.S. and Iranian negotiating teams, said Iran wanted to make sure sanctions relief was addressed with the same scope in the deal as the curbs on its nuclear program.
After all, both Obama and Rouhani have to please different audiences. In Iran, Rouhani has to wade through what could be stiff opposition among hardliners furious over curbs on a program they see as a matter of national pride.
“Part of this for the Iranians is saving face,” Marashi said.