Iran Hardliners Silent on Nuclear Deal

Iran’s Shiite Muslim clerics and Revolutionary Guard commanders have been “remarkably quiet” about the country’s nuclear talks as the U.S. and Iran prepare to resume negotiations this week, a former member of the elite military force said Monday. The hardliner faction’s silence signals a satisfaction with the direction of the talks and a serious effort by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to find a solution in negotiations, analysts said. Khamenei expressed his country’s approval of the negotiations while addressing a crowd to celebrate the first day of the Iranian new year on Saturday. “No one in Iran is against the resolution of the nuclear issue through negotiations,” he said.