I'm Shocked, Shocked to Discover That Iran Has Hardliners, Too

Today, fainting couches everywhere were creaking under the weight of warhawks and True 'Muricans as news media reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said some not-nice things about the P5+1 talks and the associated nuclear deal.

"Americans put out a statement just a few hours after our negotiators finished their talks ... this statement, which they called a 'fact sheet', was wrong on most of the issues." Khamenei said.

"I was never optimistic about negotiating with America... nonetheless I agreed to the negotiations and supported, and still support, the negotiators," Khamenei said to chants of "Death to America."

Of course, what won't be mentioned by the chest-thumpers both here and abroad, in their "whatever supports my preconceived notions are the only facts that count" logic, is that these negotiations still remain a historical accomplishment - even if a deal is never reached - and Iran's leadership already has a lot invested in changing its national profile to that of a rational actor upon the world stage.

Ultimately, despite language casting the negotiations as riddled with deceptive slights from the malevolent Western powers, Iran's Supreme Leader still suggested that:

"I support a deal that preserves the interests and honor of Iran."

The horror.

More below the fold.