Over the weekend, at an event marking the two-year anniversary of his election, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani declared that “we have achieved a big victory for the Iranian nation.” He was talking about the emerging nuclear deal between Iran and Western powers. Iran justifiably believes that it has managed to con the West, having gained the upper hand thanks to its “smile diplomacy” as led by its articulate lead negotiator, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Rouhani believes Zarif’s strong command of the English language and of European etiquette has charmed his counterparts and produced a favorable outcome.
