LONDON, (PNA/IRNA) — A wall of mistrust still separates Americans and Iranians and it will take more than recent statements by both governments to break down that wall, according to former CBS News editor and journalist Tom Fenton.
But the veteran journalist said that he is cautiously optimistic about the future of Iran-US relations.“For the first time in years, I am cautiously optimistic about the future of Iran-US relations”, he told IRNA in an interview.
“President Obamas 15-minute telephone conversation with President Rouhani and the speeches of both Presidents to the United Nations General Assembly were a public confirmation of their desire to end 34 years of mutual hostility between the two governments”, he added.
“I am also optimistic because the political and economic conditions now seem right for an agreement” said Fenton, who served as a bureau chief in London, Paris, Rome, Moscow and Tel Aviv in a 34-year career with CBS before retiring in 2004.
He believes that in the past, efforts to improve relations between Iran and US failed because one side or the other felt no need for a reconciliation.
“But now the American public as well as their government have no desire for more military interventions in the Middle East. And the Iranians are suffering from the crippling economic sanctions imposed by the UN, the US and its Western allies. Both the US and Iranian leaders seem to believe it is time to talk,” the award-winning journalist said.
“However, a wall of mistrust still separates the two governments. It will take more than American statements that it is not seeking regime change in Iran and Iranian statements or a Fatwa that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, to break down that wall. It will take demonstrable facts,” he told IRNA.