Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/628413
ByAdamSchreck The Associated Press DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIR- ATES The lifting of crip- pling international sanc- tions linked to Iran's nu- clear program and the flurry of diplomacy that led to the release of Americans held by Tehran suggests a new era could be dawn- ing. But anyone hoping for rapid change is likely to be disappointed. President Hassan Rou- hani and his team have plenty to celebrate now that nuclear sanctions have been removed. The moderate leader promised to boost Iran's struggling economy and improve its relations with the wider world during his 2013 cam- paign. The nuclear deal achieves both aims. He hailed the deal Sun- day as a way to open "new windows for engagement with the world," and said fresh investments and newly freed overseas as- sets could kick-start the transformation of a coun- try struggling with high unemployment and infla- tion. At the top of the shop- ping list are more than 100 planes from Europe's Air- bus. It will take time for the economic benefits to trickle down to ordinary Iranians, but the good- will from the deal could translate into electoral gains for moderate and re- formist candidates in par- liamentary elections late next month. Voters will also select members of the 88-seat Experts Assem- bly, an influential clerical body that picks a succes- sor for the 76-year-old su- preme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the event of his death. Rouhani may have pushed for the rapid im- plementation of Iran's com- mitments under last sum- mer's nuclear deal, ensur- ing faster sanctions relief, with the electoral timeta- ble in mind. But he still faces intense domestic opposition from hard-liners who believe he has given away too much and fear Iran's opening to the outside world leaves it exposed to corrupting for- eign cultural influences. In the months leading up this past weekend's im- plementation of the nuclear deal, Iranian authorities pursued a renewed crack- down on free expression, jailing several writers and artists, including award- winning filmmaker Key- wan Karimi. The November anniver- sary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran drew thousands of dem- onstrators, who burned American flags and hoisted signs denouncing McDon- ald's and Starbucks. That hard-line pushback also helps explain para- doxes like the fact that of- ficials, including Foreign Minister Mohammad Ja- vad Zarif, tout the deal's benefits on Twitter even as Iranian censors block the site and other social media services at home. Khamenei, Iran's top de- cision-maker, has left little doubt where he stands on the question of whether the opening with the West should lead to a relaxing of conservative values. Dur- ing a speech to prayer lead- ers this month, he warned that "one of the main ob- jectives of the enemies of Islam and the Iranian na- tion is to change the cul- ture and moralities of peo- ple, particularly their life- style." Those hoping for greater openness in Iran will face resistance from entrenched interests such as the pow- erful Revolutionary Guard, notes Cliff Kupchan, the chairman of the Eurasia Group. He predicts "a path of slow, non-linear politi- cal and economic liberal- ization" in the wake of the deal's implementation. "Khamenei has been in- tent on showing that the deal is a one-off, not a dé- tente," Kupchan wrote. "And for some years the Leader will need the image of the 'Great Satan' to legit- imize his rule in the eyes of key constituencies — the (Revolutionary Guard), conservative clerics and the pious poor." And for all the conver- sations U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Zarif have had over the past few years, the fact remains that they represent coun- tries that do not have for- mal diplomatic relations. Official ties were severed after the 1979 Islamic Rev- olution and the storming of the U.S. Embassy. Wide- ranging U.S. sanctions im- posed over the years and unrelated to Iran's nuclear program remain in place. That will complicate Amer- ican companies' ability to do business in the Islamic Republic. "Both sides would like to open a new chapter. This does not mean they see eye to eye," said Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East ex- pert at the London School of Economics. "This does not mean the end to mis- trust. This does not mean the end to divergent inter- ests in the region." Still, the two diplomats have forged a working re- lationship that can at times bear fruit. Months of negotiations resulted in the release of four Iranian-Americans from prison, including Washington Post journal- ist Jason Rezaian, in ex- change for seven Iranians held in the U.S., six of them also dual nationals. A fifth American held in Iran, stu- dent Matthew Trevithick, was also released. NUCLEAR PROGRAM Analysis:Irandealsmay not herald rapid changes VAHIDSALEMI—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses lawmakers in an open session of parliament, in Tehran, Iran, on Sunday. Rouhani said Sunday that the official implementation of the landmark deal reached between Tehran and six world powers has satisfied all parties except radical extremists. BOB SELF — THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION Kathy Williams walks the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade route with a portrait of the Civil Rights leader during the parade in Jacksonville, Fla., on Monday. By Jeffrey Collins The Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. For the first time in 17 years, civil rights leaders marched to the South Carolina State- house to pay homage to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Only this year, the Con- federate flag wasn't there casting a long shadow over them. The rebel banner was taken down over the sum- mer after police said a young white man shot nine black church mem- bers to death during a Bi- ble study in Charleston. Following the massacre at the Emanuel African Meth- odist Episcopal Church, Re- publican Gov. Nikki Haley reversed course and made it a priority for lawmakers to pass legislation to re- move the flag. "Isn't this a great day? It's so nice to be standing here and not looking at that flag," said Ezell Pittman, who attended most of the King Day anti-flag rallies since they started in 2000. "I always had faith it would come down. I hate it took what it did, but was real happy to see it go." Across the country, the 30th anniversary of the holiday to honor the civil rights leader assassinated in 1968, was remembered in different ways. In Mich- igan, people delivered bot- tled water to residents of Flint amid the city's drink- ing water crisis. In Atlanta, an overflow crowd listened as to the nation's housing secretary talk about the 50th anniversary of King's visit to Chicago to launch a campaign for fair hous- ing. In Minnesota, a rally against police brutality was planned. South Carolina NAACP President Lonnie Randolph said the flag's removal was tangible evidence the state cares about civil rights when pushed hard enough. But he warned there would be other fights ahead. "I promise you, the peo- ple that gather in this building — your building — will do something this year to cause us to return to insure freedom, justice and equality is made pos- sible for all people," Ran- dolph said, motioning to- ward the capitol behind him. Randolph promised to keep coming to the State- house until King's dream comes its full meaning in a state where there are wide gaps in education achieve- ment between school dis- tricts in rich, white com- munities and poorer, black ones, and where the gover- nor and Republican-dom- inated Legislature have refused to take federal money to expand Medicaid. About 1,000 people gath- ered at the Statehouse on a clear, cold day, drawn in part by appearances by all three main Demo- cratic presidential candi- dates — Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley. Sanders reminded the crowd King was a dynamic leader who wanted to help the poor. O'Malley said King would be ashamed his countyhasmadeitharderto vote and easier to buy a gun. Only Clinton dealt di- rectly with the flag. She credited Haley and the Republicans with work- ing with the NAACP af- ter the church shooting and choosing King's leg- acy over hatred. "We couldn't celebrate him and the Confederacy. We had to choose," Clinton said. "And South Carolina made the right choice." In the nation's capital, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama followed the King Day theme of community service by planting veg- etable seeds at a District of Columbia elementary school to honor the civil rights leader and celebrate Mrs. Obama's anti-child- hood obesity initiative. With Confederate flag gone, King Day rally shi s focus CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER TheDarkside 840 Main St. Red Bluff CA 530-527-9700 2032 Pine St. Redding CA 530-246-1773 Darkside The 750DavidAvenue,RedBluff•527-9193• www.tehamaestatesretirement.com findusonFacebook Tehama Estates The areas #1 Senior Housing Provider SeniorRetirementApartments • 3 Delicious Healthy Meals Each Day • Daily Housekeeping • 24 Hour Staffing, 365 Days of the Year • Utilities Included (except phone & cable) • Transportation • Fun Activities and Events Call For Rent Special TehamaEstatesProvides: Topsoilfrom Red Truck Rock Yard, LLC •StandardBlends • Premium Blends • Special Blends • Also Available: Mushroom Compost Mulch • Worm Castings Open Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. We'llalsodeliverstraighttoyou. MOVING SALE 25% OFF ALL INVENTORY Callfordetails530-824-0773 M-F 11am-6pm • Sat. 11am-3pm • Closed Sunday 592 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff ( In the old Pronto Market) (530) 528-0799 BBQ PORK★ BEEF ★ CHICKEN One question we all love to hate WHAT'S FOR DINNER? Seeusforyour dinner needs, lunch too! 2 Bud's BBQ www.dalescarpetandflooringredbluff.com Come in and see us in our NEW LOCATION at 330 Walnut St. Red Bluff • 530-529-4004 Free Estimates Whenqualityandservicematter, Dales Carpet & Design is the right choice! CARPET • VINYL • LAMINATE • HARDWOOD TILE • WINDOW COVERINGS. 13540 Trinity Ave, Red Bluff (530) 527-8262 • (530) 528-8261 IF NO ANSWER CALL 529-7400 www.garysautobodyandtowing.com AUTO BODY REPAIR 24 HOUR TOWING WE BILL ALL MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES • ECO-FRIENDLY&DRUGFREE • COLLISION REPAIR APPROVED BY ALL MAJOR INSURANCE COMPANIES • LIFETIME WARRANTY • STATE-OF-THE-ART DOWN DRAFT SPRAY BOOTH • NATIONAL AWARD WINNING RESTORATION • AUTO & RV REPAIRS "WE MEET BY ACCIDENTS" • ECO-FRIENDLY&DRUGFREE • FAST! COURTEOUS SERVICE • CLEAN AIR CONDITIONED TRUCKS • REASONABLE RATES • LOCAL & LONG DISTANCE • FORK LIFT SERVICE • ANTIQUE & LUXURY CAR TOWING • ON & OFF ROAD RECOVER • MOTOR HOMES & RV'S TOWED • AUTO & RV REPAIRS • INSURANCE WORK • 5TH WHEEL TOWING • AUTO BODY WORK Full Auto Detailing Available Free with collision repair GARY'S AUTO BODY & 24 HOUR TOWING, INC. "GOODSAM" MOTOR CLUB 20815 Dalby Ln. Red Bluff 527-5314 Where Excellence Meets Affordable No Appointment Necessary FREE Is Your Check Engine Light On? We'll Code Check it Visit us on the web at www.eliteautomotiveredbluff.com Monday-Friday 7:30-5:30 SMOG CHECK ✓ All prices plus sales tax, license fees, doc fees, any finance charge, any dealer preparation charge, any emission charge, any documentation preparation charge, any smog fees and any tire fees. all vehicles subject to prior sale & credit approval. Sale expires Jan. 31, 2016 GrowneyMotors 1160 Main St, Red Bluff • (530) 527-1034 $ 25,995 2015 CHEVY CAMARO LT A/T, V6, PRIOR RENTAL, FACTORY WARRANTY REMAINING. #111579 ONEAT THIS PRICE January Special | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016 4 B