'Despite his image', Ahmadinejad seen backing nuclear deal

Reuters/ here

"....... he faces stiff opposition from rivals in Iran's political and clerical elite who would hate to see the abrasive leader reap the credit for a breakthrough with the West.

"The president wants the deal to be sealed. He has redoubled efforts to defuse the nuclear dispute with the West," said a senior Iranian official, who asked not to be named. "He thinks the deal is in line with Iran's interests."........

"Ahmadinejad is ultimately cautious. He seeks to alleviate the crisis with the West to strengthen his position in Iran and abroad," said Iranian political analyst Hashem Sedaghati....

"Larijani and other so-called conservatives are saying: 'Why do we have to give up our uranium? What is the good experience we had with Russia and France to give them our uranium?'," said Iran analyst Mahjoob Zweiri at Jordan University's Center for Strategic Studies, highlighting the internal debate in Iran.

Public opinion also remains broadly supportive of Larijani, spurred on by local media which focus on the West's perceived unfair treatment of Iran's nuclear program....

It is not clear whether how much support Ahmadinejad's new emphasis on "cooperation, not confrontation" enjoys from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but most analysts say the change could not have happened without a green light from above..."