Oct 18, 2013

TEHRAN, Iran — The streets of Tehran, despite almost 35 years of the Islamic revolution, didn’t give up the revolutionary touch or the rebellious ambience that tells visitors to the Iranian capital's part of Islamic Iran’s story. Posters of "heroes" who were killed during the eight-year war with Iraq can be seen almost everywhere. So are banners with popular slogans or quotations by the late Imam Ruhollah Khomeini and his successor, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The atmosphere depicts the revolutionaries’ view of Israel and the United States, or what are well-known in post-revolution Iran as the "Small Satan" and the "Big Satan," respectively.

Despite the "Down with America" posters or the "Death to America" chants at every Friday prayer in Tehran, a relatively different ambience was felt in accordance with the two-day long Geneva nuclear talks, which saw both the American and the Iranian delegation meeting face-to-face in another rare encounter that added to Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif’s meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry, and the historic phone call between President Hassan Rouhani and US President Barak Obama.

"I’m optimistic," said Amir, a student at Tehran University who thinks Iran should open up so that he and others get the chance to develop and work. "I’m happy the ice has broken. Maybe two or more positive steps will build mutual confidence, and then I’m sure things will definitely change."

But what is the change Amir is looking for? Amir thinks that Iran and the US are great nations. "We can work things together; the United States made mistakes and we, too, but that doesn’t mean we are the ‘Axis of Evil" nor are they ‘The Great Satan,'" he elaborated. "Direct talks are going to change many things; for me as a student, I hope this time things will work."

Amir’s optimism was boosted by statements and stances he heard from Geneva, some via state-owned television, or via satellite channels. He and others like him are enthusiastic to see the happy ending changing their lives. The main change that is hoped for here in Tehran is a decision by the United States and its allies to lift the years-long sanctions on Iran.