Iranian President Hasan Rouhani greeted with mixed reaction after Obama phone call
(CBS News) There was mixed reaction in Iran Saturday as President Hasan Rouhani returned to Tehran. He was met by both cheers and protests following his historic phone call with President Obama.
When Rouhani returned to Iran, a crowd of hundreds greeted him, most to cheer him on and a few dozen to shout him down, throwing eggs at the president's car and chanting, "Death to America."
Friday's historic phone call with Mr. Obama ended a 34-year silence between Iran and the U.S. in place since the Iranian Revolution and hostage standoff at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
The 15-minute talk centered on Iran's secretive nuclear program. Rouhani gave details on his Twitter feed. He says he told Mr. Obama "with political will there is a way to rapidly solve the matter" then ended the call with a cheery "have a good day, Mr. President."
Rouhani has the support of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for now and by default the powerful commanders of the Revolutionary Guard.
Many ordinary Iranians are supportive and hopeful. One woman said the call was an ideal starting point.
Sanctions are killing Iran's economy. Inflation and unemployment are up, the currency is down.
In an interview with "60 Minutes," Secretary of State John Kerry said the only way out is to open the country's nuclear program to the world.
"The United States is not going to lift the sanctions until it is clear that a very verifiable, accountable, transparent process is in place, whereby we know exactly what Iran is going to be doing with its program," Kerry said.
Rouhani said his country will put forward a plan in the next two weeks.
The U.S. and its allies will be meeting with Iran again Oct. 16 in Geneva, and they'll be looking for a concrete sign that the country is ready to stop enriching uranium and close a secret underground facility.