IRAN - The Phone Call (Obama - Rouhani)

I have VERY skeptical hope, Iran.   Don't believe Assad at all.

"Obama, Iran's President Rouhani Discuss Diplomacy Prospects in a Phone Call" PBS Newshour 9/27/2013

Excerpt

JUDY WOODRUFF (Newshour):  Now to breakthroughs on the diplomatic front.

President Obama spoke by phone to Iran's president this afternoon, the highest-level conversation between the two nations since 1979.  And the U.N. Security Council is poised to approve a resolution on Syria tonight.

Margaret Warner reports.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:  We're very hopeful about the prospects for what can be accomplished, but, obviously, there is a lot of work to be done.

MARGARET WARNER (Newshour):  Meeting with India's prime minister, President Obama hailed the draft U.N. resolution to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  I have always expressed a preference for resolving this diplomatically, and I appreciate all our international partners in working very hard over the past several days to make sure that we could arrive at a resolution that not only deters and prevents additional chemical use, but actually goes beyond what could've been accomplished through any military action, and that is the removal of chemical weapons, one of the largest stockpiles in the world.

MARGARET WARNER:  The measure, going before the full Security Council tonight, requires Syria to surrender its chemical weapons for destruction and give weapons experts full access to ensure compliance.

But if Syria balks or cheats, the U.S. and its allies would need a separate resolution if they want U.N. approval to impose sanctions or military action.  That was seen as a victory for Syria's ally Russia.  And Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the U.N. General Assembly today there's no place for unilateral action, as President Obama had threatened.