Analyst: Powerful forces in Iran opposed to Rouhani's position Iranian President Hasan Rouhani has come under pressure in recent days over what some see to be bold strides away from his predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s controversial policies. Iran analyst and Director of the Orient Research Center in Dubai, Samir Al-Taqi, spoke to AFP about the nature of the current détente that appears to be underway between the US and Iran. Images and soundbites