Hoping for a nuclear compromise

Iran seems to have come closer than ever before to a compromise in the ongoing nuclear negotiations with the five UN veto powers and Germany. But on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his US colleague John Kerry left the talks for further consultations, before coming to an agreement.

Most of the Persian-speaking DW users following and commenting on what is happening do not think any comprehensive agreement will be reached by the deadline of 24 November. And insiders confirm that a successful conclusion to the talks by that date is unlikely. People close to the negotiations said on Thursday that the deadline could be extended to March instead. This news led to much frustration from DW users. "The only thing they can agree on is the date for the next negotiations!" wrote one user mockingly.

Altogether more than 16,000 users accepted the invitation by DW's Persian-language department to take part in the discussion. To protect their safety, we do not give the names of the users in what follows.

"Living conditions will improve"

Even if almost no one believes in an agreement any time soon, most users long for the negotiations to end. They feel that settling the dispute would have a positive impact on the country's economy, inflation and thus on their own financial situation. One user who shares this hope writes on Facebook: "The sanctions have led to the Arabs exploiting the gas and oil fields shared with Iran. The price of the dollar tripled in the country, meaning that all products imported from abroad did so as well. I hope that the situation gradually improves when sanctions are lifted." Another optimist wrote: "The living conditions of Iranians will improve the more contact and cultural exchange there is with the West."

Too many benefits for some?

However, most users are skeptical about whether settling the nuclear dispute will really improve their lives. In one Facebook post, the user writes: "Let's say that a compromise is actually reached and all sanctions are lifted. Isn't any hope for change just self-deception in view of the security apparatus controling the country and the huge dominance of the Revolutionary Guards in the economic sector?" The powerful Revolutionary Guards do indeed control large parts of the Iranian economy. Many even profit from the sanctions, growing rich from smuggling and trading on the black market.

Another user wrote about the heavy consequences of the sanctions in his comment: "Ninety percent of present unemployment, stress, mental problems, prostitution and drug problems in the past three years have come about because of the sanctions. Those people who have the right connections have profited from the situation and are in an ideal position. If the negotiations fail, the ultra-conservatives and the wealthy will throw a party, and 80 percent of the population will suffer more misery and poverty."

The West as perceived foe

Another user points out the significance of creating perceived enemies for the Iranian regime: "The system puts the blame for the bad living conditions on the enemy to keep itself alive. The regime hat never cared about the wellbeing of the population and never will." Yet another writes in similar vein: "The nuclear program has brought the Iranian population nothing but disadvantages, even if Iranian state media try to manipulate public opinion in the country to their advantage."

So, despite all the skepticism, a large number of users hope for an end to the sanctions soon. "If no agreement is reached, the people in Iran will be the ones to suffer the most because of it," another user fears. "I hope for a compromise. Even if it doesn't achieve anything in an economic regard, the sanctions would no longer be able to serve the regime as an excuse for driving the country to rack and ruin."