John Bolton calls Hassan Rohani the ‘smiling face of the Islamic Revolution’
With the arrival of Iranian President Hassan Rohani in New York City to address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday , and softened tone and rhetoric from the news President since taking office, many see some opportunities for constructive diplomacy with the Islamic State.
However, former US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton doesn’t see it that way.
In an interview on Fox News over the weekend Bolton said that Iran’s “charm offensive”, that many Americans, including the White House are buying is not to be taken seriously.
Bolton said of Iran, “they have long been the world’s central banker of terrorism on an equal opportunity basis.”
The Ambassador called this weeks gathering in New York “quite significant” saying that people should be focused on Iran as a terrorist threat and not on their propaganda machine.
Commenting on the possible meeting between Rohani and President Obama, Bolton said, “Why should the President want to shake hands with a top official of a government that even to this day, the administration lists as a state sponsor of terrorism.”
As compared to his predecessor, Bolton said, “Hasan Rohani comes as the “smiling” face of the Islamic Revolution.
He said although the Iranians are willing to make some “cosmetic” concessions to het the sanctions lifted, the nuclear weapons program is off the table.
Criticizing the Obama administration over falling for the latest rhetoric from Iran, Bolton said Rohani is bringing with him the P.T. Barnum doctrine–“There’s a sucker born every minute and he’s hoping there’s one in the White House right now.”