They go back three or four decades, and they've been through a lot together. I think Khamenei is tending domestically to his power base, and he does want to avert an international crisis.

This is more than symbolic. This is the leader saying, 'We're moving too far right,' ... I'm loath to call Rafsanjani moderate, but in the current context, he is a voice of moderation.

This all but closes the door for a breakthrough in U.S.-Iran relations.

he was the candidate who could offer economic deliverance and do away with a lot of corruption and economic stagnation that had marked Iranian politics and economics for the last eight years.

He's the most talented diplomat in the Iranian government. He could make a difference in the nuclear negotiations.

It´s definitely an advantage. We´ve got guys that have played together the last three or four years. A lot of teams really juggled their rosters, ... The core of our team is back, most of the team is back. We´re sitting good right now.