For a while, it seemed like an agreement might be reached in the last round of talks in early November, with foreign ministers involved.That didn’t happen, however, and now lower level officials will to try to bridge the gaps.Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif thinks they can succeed.“I think we are all on the same wavelength and that's important and that gives us the impetus to go forward when we meet again next time.”The issues are difficult. But experts say a first-stage agreement for some limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for easing some economic sanctions is possible,in part because Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, appears to want one.“The Supreme Leader will make a strategic calculation about what is in the best interests of Iran."Gabrielle Rifkind, who heads the Middle East Program at the Oxford Research Group,"The Supreme Leader is a very shrewd operator.It’s too easy to say he’s just ideologically rigid. I think he’s actually a lot smarter than that.”The Ayatollah has told hardliners in Iran to give the newly-elected, relatively moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, a chance to make diplomacy work.The motivation is the same force that put Rouhani into power - the public outcry in Iran for relief from the crippling economic sanctions.But speaking via Skype from the Center for Security Studies in Zurich, senior researcher Roland Popp said the motivation goes only so far.
