Words of seventh-century imam signal Iran�s change of approach

The Iranian regime�s sudden focus on a seventh-century Shia imam may be the strongest indicator yet that Tehran is serious about negotiating on its nuclear programme.

Imam Hassan, grandchild of the Prophet Mohammed and the second of 12 Shia imams, is famous for negotiating a peace treaty with those opposed to the principle that only descendants of the prophet could rule over Muslims. In Shia texts, his actions are defended as a compromise for the greater good of the religion, rather than a defeat.

When Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran�s top decision maker, called last week for �heroic flexibility� in talks over the nuclear programme, he was echoing the title of a religious text about Imam Hassan that he translated decades ago: Imam Hassan�s Peace: the Most Glorious Heroic Flexibility in History.

The comment boosted hopes in Iran and the west of a possible nuclear deal, even though the ayatollah added that any flexibility was simply a tactic, presumably to deal with a difficult period and head off more economic sanctions or the possible threat of military confrontation with Israel or the US.

The imam�s name has since begun appearing in speeches and newspaper articles suggesting his ideas of compromise in the face of confrontation have been widely adopted.

Iran�s president, Hassan Rouhani, who is named after the imam, is expected to bring a message of compromise when he addresses the UN General Assembly this week. All the evidence points to the regime being ready, at least for now, to scale down its nuclear activities if the major powers, particularly the US, recognise Tehran�s right to enrich uranium.

There is even speculation that Mr Rouhani and President Barack Obama could meet or shake hands at the assembly. If they do, it would mark the first encounter between leaders of Iran and the US since the Iranian revolution in 1979.

�Rouhani�s priority is to contain the nuclear crisis and prevent it from getting bigger so that sanctions are partially eased,� said a reform-minded politician.

Pessimists in Iran believe differences between Tehran and Washington are too deep for there to be any lasting breakthrough. �Iran seeks a win-win game with the US and a win-lose game with Israel, which is not possible considering the unique relations between the US and Israel,� said one former senior Iranian diplomat.

Analysts say the Iranian regime also believes that whenever it compromises with the US, Washington takes this as a sign of weakness and tries to take advantage.

�We should be ultimately ready for resistance and rely solely on our influence in the region, which is the only way to talk to the US,� added the former diplomat.

Public calls for reconciliation with the US are led by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, an influential former president whose support was crucial in Mr Rouhani�s surprise victory. Mr Rafsanjani has prompted a debate about why Iran should no longer consider the US its arch-foe.

�The way we deal with the US, by which we neither talk nor have relations, is not sustainable,� Mr Rafsanjani was quoted as saying on his official website on Sunday. �The US is the superpower. What is the difference between Europe and the US? China and US? Russia and US? If we talk to them, why should not we talk to US? Talks do not mean surrender.�

Should the nuclear talks with the US and other big powers fail, Iran�s hardliners may regain the upper hand. In that case, Iran could go back to promoting another imam: Hussein � the third Imam, who was Hassan�s younger brother and known for fighting to the death for his cause. He was favoured during the war with Iraq in 1980s.

Imam Hussein became a symbol of martyrdom for the Shia after he was killed at Karbala, in Iraq, defending the principle that only descendants of the Prophet Mohammed were eligible to lead the Islamic community.

Kayhan, a mouthpiece for hardliners who are opposed to any rapprochement with the US, warned on Sunday against misinterpreting �heroic flexibility�. The paper quoted Ayatollah Khamenei, who said in 2000: �Today, neither the US nor anyone bigger than the US can impose anything like Imam Hassan�s peace on the Islamic world. If they exert too much pressure, then Karbala will be repeated.�

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2013.