rouhani was elected and they had a new foreign minister. were any conversations with the previous-- >> no. >> rose: none. >> no. therefore, it's a major shift. after the election, i received the ambassador of iran, and the new minister, mr. zarif, called me saying, "well, there has not been a relationship before" and we had an interesting conversation on the phone. it was about syria. i said, "you know we are against chemical weapons because we have suffered with chemical weapons coming from the iraqis, and, therefore, we are against the chemical weapons, and we want to that everybody will abide by the international law." and i said, "mr. minister, i'm very happy to high pressure from you. we want that everyone will abide by international law, and especially in the nuclear field. then there was a silence. and then he said okay. and, you know, this sort of story which enabled us to know who is in front of us. >> rose: where do you stand and has your opinion changedly on the question of iran being a participant in negotiations about syria? >>

president rouhani was. it was someone from the arab press who used the term resistance but we were talking about terrorism. we were talking about hezbollah. he said something, i can't quote him, but he said something like this is not mutually exclusive with the kind of outreach we're doing. so in effect, he's not backing off the support for hezbollah. >> in other words, we're talking to obama and the president today, you know, to be fair to the president, he said it's got to be meaningful, transparent and verifiable. that's what he says about the united nations' agreement. that's what he says about syria. so the question is how can it be transparent and verifiable, because there's not much in iran or syria that's transparent as far as i can tell. >> let's remember that reza also reported that nothing has changed about their nuclear program. it's exactly the same as when ahmadinejad was in power. so this is a new package and no one knows what's inside it. >> although it is an old position of the iranian gove

i reiterated to president rouhani what i said in new york. while there will surely be important obstacles to moving forward, and success is by no means guaranteed, i believe we can reach a comprehensive solution. i've directed secretary kerry to continue pursuing this diplomatic effort with the iranian government. we had constructive discussions yesterday in new york with our partners, the european union, the united kingdom, france, germany, russia and china, together with the iranian foreign minister. going forward, president rouhani and i have directed our teams to continue working expeditiously in cooperation with the p-5 plus 1 to pursue an agreement. throughout this process we will stay in touch with our friends and allies in the region, including israel. we're mindful of all the challenges ahead. the very fact that this was the first communication between an american and iranian president since 1979 underscores the deep mistrust between our countries, but it also indicates the prospect of moving beyond that difficult history. >> let's g

i think that's why rouhani is now, you know, making these offers. i think they realize how much pressure is on their regime and we're basically giving them a chase to capitulate and compromise on their nuclear weapons program or face an implosion of their economy. >> congressman, what do you make of rouhani's public relations offensive? he's certainly trying to sound and seem different from ahmadinejad and his pred s predecessors. >> very clever fellow and certainly took credit during the negotiations with the europeans. his words were during that process, he was able to stretch out the negotiations and get the centrifuges spinning, get them online. so today, you've got four times as many and they're spinning four times as fast because they're much more advanced, and he takes credit for doing that. so i think -- i think that's been his past policy. what we need to do is make it very clear that we're wise to that. we know he's playing the same playbook that north korea used to get nuclear weapons, to get out from under the sanctions. so we just need

she is the first western journalist to have access to hassan rouhani. the reaction continues today to what he said, especially concerning what he said about nuclear weapons. in a moment some of the reaction. first tonight ann has more from tehran on what happens when he comes to the u.s. next week. ann, good evening. >> reporter: that's right, brian. good evening to you. the strong statements from iran's new president that he would never build a nuclear weapon and has full authority to negotiate a deal has sparked growing anticipation, especially here in iran about what might happen when he goes before the united nations next week. are you willing to meet with president obama in new york at the united nations? >> translator: i do not have any plan to meet president obama in our agenda. >> reporter: would you be against meeting with president obama in the near future, mr. president? >> translator: well, anything is possible in the world of politics. it depends on the necessary conditions. >> reporter: mr. president, president obama has revealed that you

president rouhani blamed the nonmeeting on a lack of time. >> i spoke on the phone with president rouhani, the president of iran. while there will surely be obstacles moving forward and success is by no means guaranteed, i believe we can reach a comprehensive solution. >> national security adviser susan rice then came back into the public eye, giving the details of the call. >> can you give as you sense of how this phone call happened? who called whom? >> i think asle people know, we had indicated earlier in the week an openness to a brief informal encounter when president obama was in new york at the general assembly. and while we were open to that, the iranians indicated that it was complicated for them in their context. so it didn't occur. and then today, somewhat surprisingly we were contacted by them to say that president rouhani would lake to speak to president obama by telephone on his way out of town. and we were able to make that call come together. and it did. and it was a constructive discussion. >> how long was the call? >> about 15 minutes. of course with translation. so it w

you know, rouhani, i know there's a lot of hope here. i'm hopeful, but at the same time, here's a man who boasted during his run for presidency that, in fact, look, when i was the negotiator a decade ago, i avoided sanctions and yet we proceeded on our nuclear program. so i think we have to keep that in mind as we deal with him now. >> senator menendez, thank you. i know you've got to go. thanks for much for taking the time today. we really appreciate it. >> thank you. >> meanwhile, in pakistan, the death toll is rapidly rising after a powerful earthquake struck a remote area near the iranian border yesterday. at least 327 people are confirmed dead. many were killed when their homes collapsed. at least 350 people were injured. the 7.7-magnitude quake also created a solitary island rising from the sea just off the coast. it's about 60 feet high, 100 feet long, and 250 feet wide. meanwhile, rescue efforts continue today to find survivors. the pakistani military has rushed 1,000 troops and helicopters to that area. i do a lot oresearch on a

but rouhani says it's never been working ton and isn't working on it today. he starts with a double lie and then we tore believe that his next statement it will never construct one is true. i think this is a very shaky basis, looks like we are the supplicant and we will give a lot of way which will give iran in a position to go nuclear in a very short order. >> president rouhani did not want to shake hands with president obama or have that photo at the u.n. but he did do the phone call. kirsten? >> well, look, there is a lot to be skeptical about here. absolutely. there is every reason to believe that the iranians will mislead. and up to no good. the question is we haven't been talking to them and they have been moving closer to building a bomb or so we believe. that's not working. so, trying to talk and start some sort of conversation is a step hopefully in the right direction. it has to be, i think, dealt with with less skepticism. >> i think that's all. >> fair enough. >> i think that's there is something terribly unseemly about, it is sort of like a high

after the call ended, rouhani's twitter account lit up. a picture was posted of rouhani on his plane describing the call as historic and then a message saying obama and rouhani agreed ground should be prepared for solving of other issues including regional matters. foreign ministers tasked with followup to expedite cooperation. after the handshake that didn't happen earlier in the week at the u.n., today's phone call is being scrutinized from every angle tonight. our chief national security correspondent, jim schiudo, joins us now. how did this conversation even come about, first of all? >> reporter: here's how the white house puts it. they say they made it clear to the iranians early in the week that the president, president obama, that is, wanted to have direct contact, particularly this handshake we talked about. but the iranians at the time said, well, diplomacy takes time, this isn't the right time. it wasn't convenient for them. they cited problems back home in tehran. but the white house left the door open, and this morning the whit

the problem is rouhani doesn't run the iranian republic. the supreme leader does, and unless he says something different, we're going to see more of the same, more of the bait and switch, more of the charlie and the football from rouhani. >> frank and michael, thanks to both of you for the back and forth on what could be and what may not be. >>> now let me take you to washington. back to pictures here of senator cruz, republican senator from texas, speaking, continuing to speak. he's been going for about 20 minutes here on the senate floor, giving his opinion on why obama care is bad for the country. he says that he will keep talking until he can't stand there anymore. take a listen. >> i intend to speak in opposition to obama care. i intend to speak in support of defunding obama care until i am no longer able to stand. to do everything that i can to help americans stand together and recognize this grand experiment 3 1/2 years ago is quite simply not working. >> chief congressional correspondent dana bash there watching. what's happening? i

rouhani himself has lied about the program. he said iran never saw neck webs, our intelligence, american intelligence knows that's not true, wrote a book bragging about how he lied to the west. we have to be careful. we can't fall victim to these words kind as they may seemingly be, we have to test them with deeds. are they willing to stop enrichment of uranium, stop the stockpile, not one but many. will they shut down the nuclear facility under ground. that's not made to create peaceful nuclear energy but secretly build a bomb and plutonium track, end run and get there quickly. let them do all that and then let them sit down and talk. >> to be blunt here, do you have concerns, does israel have concerns about this president, given the fact he, some would say, zigzagged, others would say flip-flopped using military force against syria. do you have concerns his red line against iran would not hold. >> president obama is dealing with rapidly unfolding and fluid situation in the middle east. the bottom line from our perspective is

no sign of rouhani. we do not believe he has rsvp'ed or accepted that lunch. >> i'm sure there would be a seat for him if they need one. >> i'm sure they could find him a chair. that does not mean they will not meet at some point in the corridors. that could still happen and we'll be told that it happened outside of our view. you can see them gathering for the lunch. they haven't sat down. and the president doing the schmoozing and the shaking of hands and that would be the extent probably of a conversation with rouhani if it does take place. >> right. >> how important is it that they actually have an encounter? and even if they don't, if the president's speech laid out a path forward, as it did, and if rouhani's speech is equally conciliatory, then it's up to john kerry and zarif to try and make something happen? >> right. well, you know, what's interesting to me is one of the things we're not thinking about from our viewpoint is how dangerous it might be for rouhani to be seen by hard liners in iran to

rouhani wrote back a short time later. the white house will now not rule out a face-to-face meeting next week at the united nations. iran says its nuclear program is all about peaceful electric power, but international inspectors contend iran has technology that goes far beyond that and could produce a nuclear weapon. until iran gives that technology up or allows inspectors unlimited access to it, the white house, scott, will take note of iran's new language but remain suspicious of its motives. >> pelley: thanks, major. the president would probably be happy tonight to hear that it appears syria has met the first deadline set out in that deal to head off a u.s. military strike. you'll recall mr. obama threatened to punish the syrian dictatorship for this nerve gas attack, part of a war against a popular rebellion. the u.s. says more than 1,400 civilians were killed. the deal, worked out last week by russia and the united states, requires syria to give up its chemical arsenal and today on schedule syria submitted an invento

>> there's no question there's a new opportunity with the rouhani administration. the secretary feels that way and president feels that way. the question is whether they can follow their rhetoric and follow their enthusiastic language with action. that's what we're waiting to see. tonight is going to be a first test of that proposition. >> rouhani gave a speech today at the united nations and said we should get rid of all nuclear weapons, a nuclear ban. then perhaps very cleverly tried to put pressure on israel saying israel should join nuclear nonproliferation treaty as iran has. there have, of course, been suggestion iran cheats on it, that israel should join, israel has a secret program no one wants to acknowledge. fair point? >> we've certainly supported all countries joining the npt. what we're talking about here is concern around the world about creation of a nuclear weapon by iran. that's why we're having this conversation. that's why there's so much focus and that's what the focus of the meeting will be with the secretary and other leaders around the world

hassan rouhani is speaking right now. rouhani is speaking right now. we are also monitoring three events actually at the same time. president obama reunites with bill and hillary clinton to try to boost his embattled obama care, the health care law. iran's president you just saw. apparently a little bit more moderate, at least there's a charm offensive going on. he's addressing the u.n. general assembly right now. we'll get some hints about where he's going next. also, you can see ted cruz, the senator from texas in a marathon protest against obama care, saying he'll speak until he drops. we will continue to monitor all of this in "the situation room." our coverage continues right after this. [ male announcer ] who loves social networking as much as you? identity thieves. they can find your personal information and do some serious damage. like your birthday or your mother's maiden name. you need a new friend. lifelock. we scour billions of data points every day, and if we discover that any of your personal information is misused... lifelock is there. c

what do you think of what rouhani said to christiane today? >> his words aren't terribly reassuring. he basically in the clip you played said we're not going to suspend plutonium enrichment which is the core issue. let's remember instead of focusing so much on sweet words about iranians love americans or whatever they actually do, and by the way, this regime is not entitled to speak for the iranian people. it murders them on a large scale and regularly. but they have also killed americans in iraq. they plotted to assassinate the saudi ambassador in washington, d.c., the man who was charged by -- not by the bush administration but by eric holder's justice department of attempting that crime was just sentenced to 25 years in prison. and secretary of state clinton said this was organized out of tehran and the two men who organized it are designated by the secretary of the treasury. we have a lot of issue ups with iran. and instead of rushing after smiles and nice words, we should be pursuing that whole agenda and not as we did with syria get trap

should president obama sit down with rouhani at the u.n. this week? >> well, i don't know about that. but i do know there are some good signals and we need to celebrate the good signals and we need to make our decisions in consultation with israel. it is, in fact, israel that they have threatened to wipe off the globe and it is posh that we stay locked with israel as we approach these new signals from iran. >> let's turn to domestic affairs. you just heard our interview with senator cruz who is calling for a filibuster which would defund obama care while funding the government. i guess two questions. what do you think of cruz's strategy and how do you think this is going to play out over the next couple of weeks? >> well, it's not brute political force. it's called the american people in elections. i don't think in america we should throw tantrums when we lose elections and threaten to refuse to pay the bills. the american people had a choice between someone who said repeal obama care and president obama and not since ronald reagan has a president bee

president rouhani has made it very clear he wants sanctions to end. and it is also important to know he has sent several signals before our interview even saying that the time is short, there won't be a lot of time to reach a nuclear deal. we asked him if that meant weeks, months, or years. he did not answer that question directly, but there is no doubt from talking to his team that they see that the time is now. clearly, i think, andrea, what you're also intimating, which is a very important point, is that there's a political risk for him just as there's a political risk for president obama to step too far into this ring without an assurance that the other is also in the ring with them. i think both sides would have to have a certain amount of political courage to actually make a deal, but there is no question at all, based on every signal that we've seen from iran and president rouhani since his election, that there is an effort to create a new opportunity that did not exist under president ahmadinejad's presidency here in iran. >> ann curry, extrao

we've seen a charm offensive by president rouhani. he's a very different figure man ahmadinejad but will he be allowed to make the kind of compromises on iran's enrichment program that are going to be necessary to get american, french, british, german and russian support. and that is an open question. it was a very good "new york times" article today casting some doubt on whether or not they are interested in a new relationship with the united states. so i think president obama is right. test this, see if the iranians are willing to make on paper and in negotiations the type of compromises that are necessary in order -- we need to see actions, not just words. >> ambassador ginsburg, for the ayatollah in a lot of ways, this is a win-win. if talks go well, they could see an easing of sanctions. if they don't go well, he can go back to railing against the united states. what are the potential risks and benefits for the united states? >> well, the risks obviously if iran continues its nuclear program and there's verification by outside ag

certainly, like you said, president rouhani has been tweeting a lot. a lot of this charm offensive aimed at the west has been carried out through twitter. he's only been in office for rough 8 weeks. but consider what he's done. he's been pen pals with obama. he's released scores of political

the two leaders also could have bumped into each other at lunch but rouhani didn't show. joining me now is former governor, bill richardson and former ambassador to the united nations. certainly a big week with the u.n. and cgi going on but let's talk about how risky it would have been for rouhani to be seen with the president of the united states and those images to translate back into iran. what do you think? what do you make? >> well, the atmospherics between the two are a lot better, the rhetoric is better, but the deeds are not there yet. what i suspect happened is the religious clerics said to rouhani, hey, don't overdo this reengagement. be careful about a handshake. be careful about appearing to send symbolism and new diplomacy, so play it cool. now, on the other hand, the atmospherics, as i said, are still better. you know, in the past ahmadinejad went after israel, there's no holocaust, went after the u.s., it's the devil. the two presidents this their talks were more conciliatory. >> so things may have warmed and diplomacy, certainly images matter but words mat

rouhani says he's ready for immediate negotiations over his nuclear program. is it the moment the world has waited for? major garrett has the story. kenya says the terrorists at the shopping mall have been defeated, but not before part of the building collapsed. they're looking for the missing and counting the dead. >> the bodies were stacking up like a pyramid. and we had to do something. >> pelley: charlie d'agata is on the breaking story. who's flying this f-16? no one. david martin on the technology the air force just revealed. and look at what a contractor found in a barn, the lost movie of america's sweetheart. anthony mason on the recovery of a turning point in hollywood history. captioning sponsored by cbs this is the "cbs evening news" with scott pelley. elley. >> pelley: good evening. was it a breakthrough or deception? that is the debate tonight after hearing the words of iran's new president at the u.n. late today. after 34 years of animosity, there is hope that the united states and iran could be on a road to better relations. at the heart of the

look at where we were two weeks ago before this election by president rouhani. a radically different approach from both sides to u.s. iranian relations. >> we'll see what happens. maybe there have been secret die logs going on that we just don't know about. >> i'll be the first to tell you if i hear. >> he'll be here with us all week. we'll have live coverage of president obama's address before the general assembly, so stay with us for that tomorrow. >>> seven days until the u.s. government runs out of a lot of money. now the ball is clearly in the u.s. senate's court. will they let it pass? will they smash it back to the house of representatives? we're going live to capitol hill. much more of our special coverage coming up right after this. over 20 million drivers are insured with geico. so get a free rate quote today. i love it! how much do you love it? animation is hot...and i think it makes geico's 20 million drivers message very compelling, very compelling. this is some really strong stuff! so you turned me into a cartoon...lovely. geico. fifteen minutes co

rouhani, it's iranian action that matters. we'd welcome a credible and verifiable agreement with iran there. have also been some early cracks in the tentative deal cut with the russians on syria turning over its chemical weapons. the former u.n. inspector charles delfer he's cautiously optimistic it will stick. >> we have to worry about syrian cheating but the russians will be hurt as well if bashar al assad is caught cheating this this case. >> reporter: not surprised prime minister benjamin netanyahu is taking a hard line against iran, stalling for time but netanyahu doesn't get a chance to address the general assembly until next wednesday. >> what's your sense of the iran meeting? is it going to happen? >> reporter: seems more and more likely, but not a formal one-on-one. what seems likely would be sort of an informal hallway bump into each other just as we saw between president obama and putin when they didn't want the formality of a one-on-one. >> as far as chance meetings go, it will be historic, no question. ed henry, t

but we should trust to rouhani. he claims he's a moderate trying to outflank the conservatives in his country. let's see if it's true. >> how likely is it the president will have enough political backing to follow his foreign policy objectives while his domestic programs remain under fire? >> well, i think that there are some challenges with the domestic programs. we've been talking about health care because people don't understand them. we have the opposition, the gop, taking advantage of folks' lack of understanding. but i don't think that means that he's going to lack support for a foreign policy agenda. we've seen bipartisan support for his challenges with syria and that, i think, will continue as he decides to see what happens with iran and whether or not this is really just words or if the actions will also match up with the new president's words. but right now, it's just potential. he was only sworn in a little over a month ago. >> we'll pick this conversation up after the break. >>> up next, president obama'

what do you think of what rouhani said to christiane today? >> his words aren't terribly reassuring. he basically in the clip you played said we're not going to suspend plutonium enrichment which is the core issue. let's remember instead of focusing so much on sweet words about iranians love americans or whatever they actually do, and by the way, this regime is not entitled to speak for the iranian people. it murders them on a large scale and regularly. but they have also killed americans in iraq. they plotted to assassinate the saudi ambassador in washington, d.c., the man who was charged by -- not by the bush administration but by eric holder's justice department of attempting that crime was just sentenced to 25 years in prison. and secretary of state clinton said this was organized out of tehran and the two men who organized it are designated by the secretary of the treasury. we have a lot of issue ups with iran. and instead of rushing after smiles and nice words, we should be pursuing that whole agenda and not as we did with syria get trap

. >> in his first interview with the western journalist, new iran yoon president, rouhani told curry of the news he does not have a bomb and will not. >>translator: in the nuclear program, discovering enters with full power and complete authority. i have given the nuclear negotiations portfolio to the foreign ministry. >> exiting his own briefing room, secretary of state john kerry gave the remarks a cautious welcome. >> everything needs to be put to the test. >> european diplomats tell fox news they don't believe rouhani has the authority to cut the deal. they also don't believe rouhani has no thompt french and british are reportedly pushing the white house action by action steps on granting u.n. inspectors to key sites there in exchange for easing of economic sanctions that have hobbled iran's economy in the last two years. >> the new president made clear he wants to or says he wants to adistress that problem. to do that he needs to demonstrate he's serious about resolving the conflict with the international community. >> one veteran urged access sors not to be taken in by the char

why is rouhani doing this? why is the ayatollah giving him this room? because the people in iran, elected this guy without a runoff. remember, they could have messed with the numbers but because the people were saying they found the most moderate guy. they're suffering, they're starving, they don't want the sanctions anymore. they want this. by the way, this is one of the things that proves -- this is a place where the united nations worked. >> yes. >> and syria is a place where the united nations has dropped the ball. there is sort of -- and that was another point that the president was trying to make today. but this is -- iran is suffering. the sanctions have worked. this is why rouhani is at the table. >> there was no meat in that answer whatsoever. >> no meat. but substance. i would say there was some tofu. protein, maybe some black beans. i'm a big legume guy. >> please, twitter, take that up and run with it. "the wall street journal" is specific, to your point, the shift comes after a year in which iran has seen its oil revenue totaled $100 billio

is it a positive sign coming from rouhani in the interview. >> very positive. everything needs to be put to the test to see where we go. at the right moment, i think the wh

impact rouhani's strategy on his own nuclear assets? >> you know, brooke, in fact, president obama came to this encounter, came to this chess game, if you will, with the iranians and rouhani and the foreign minister, he came weakened by the way he handled syria. i think the iranians watched him in syria. we had a proxy war in syria on one side, the opposition forces, the rebellion, and supposedly with the democracies behind them. on one side, the bashar al assad regime. i think the iranians have won this contest. and so we come now, and we want to negotiate with iran when we have seen a weak hand over syria. then you listen to rouhani, and this is really what makes me skeptical of this man, fundmally skeptical of him. in his washington post article he wrote, rouhani says he describes syria as a civilization jewel. and he laments and shed crocodile tears over what's happening to syria. and who is causing the mayhem in syria? the allies of iran, bashar al assad, the guard of iran, and the hezbollah forces will answer to iran. >> thank you

president obama clearly welcomes president rouhani's overtures. but words are not going to replace actions. what we need are actions that prove that we and our allies, our friends in the region, can never be threatened by this program. >> pelley: but the united states would look favorably on relaxing or eliminating the sanctions if the iranians were serious about abandoning their nuclear weapon. >> kerry: well, the united states is not going to lift the sanctions until it is clear that a very verifiable, accountable, transparent process is in place, whereby we know exactly what iran is going to be doing with its program. and if it does, of course. >> pelley: rouhani said he'd like to have a deal in three to six months. is that possible? >> kerry: sure, it's possible. it's possible to have a deal sooner than that-- depending on how forthcoming and clear iran is prepared to be. we need to have a good deal here. and a good deal means that it is absolutely accountable, failsafe in its measures to make certain this is a peaceful program. if it is a pea

president bashar al-assad putin and rouhani. start with iran. that is always a big talking part. christian amanpour interviewed rouhani and he, compared with the interview i did with mahmoud ahmadinejad, struck a conciliatory tone. >> that any crime happened against humanity including the crime the naziss created toward the jews is reprehensible and condemnable. whatever criminality they committed against the jews we condemn. >> what did you make of that? how important is that kind of concession and do you see a shift in the relationship with america? how much do you trust him? >> first of all, i think it is an interesting commentary in the world that we live in. admitting that the holocaust occurred qualifies as being moderate. in other words, if you get in to the fact-based world, there's something to it. so i think we have to keep working at it. i don't think that president obama has to trust anybody. i think you just deal with people and see what happens and go forward. i feel the same way about the russian effort to get to syrian government to declare and then hand over thei

he is on a charm offensive, rouhani. he seems to be skillful at setting a better tone, but i didn't hear him say that they're ready to negotiate on eliminating enriched uranium. i didn't hear him be very clear about the holocaust in israel. he seems to be backing off. the question is, are they doing this because they're sincere or because, one, their oil production is really down, inflation is really up, sanctions are working, but at the same time, you've got to look at a potential break through in the future, the fact that the two the secretaries of state sat down at the same time directly is a positive sign. but there's a lot that remains to be seen. i was a little concerned that charm offensive was yanked back by the clerics when president obama and rouhani didn't get a chance to at least shake hands, have a little bit of body language. i think that was a little bit of a setback. i think in diplomacy, that personal contact is very important. >> that was a real sort of snub at the united states. here the president of t

but he is -- that's where rouhani is meeting him from fran france. he will try to get iran involved in fixing problems as well as a problem itself but the major qestion is how sincere is this? is this a new gambit. now they will try playing nice a few years and each day the clock ticks further forward and critics say when they get a nuclear weapon and that's the critics against iran say they are up to. it s it serious or just playing nice to buy time? >> definitely questions. thank you for joining us. we appreciate it. >> even before the house passed its funding bill on friday. members were setting up their calendars, preparing to take the measure up again, because it doesn't have a chance of making it through the senate and landing on the president's desk. can they really get this done by the end of the month, that's next. ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] some things are designed to draw crowds. ♪ ♪ others are designed to leave them behind. ♪ the all-new 2014 lexus is. it's your move. the all-new 2014 lexus is. seasonal... doesn't begin to describe

president rouhani's position is in stark contrast to ahminedjad. in a one-on-one interview with our christiane amanpour, he was asked about his views of the nazi atrocities. >> one of the things your predecessor used to do from this platform is deny the holocaust and pretend that it was a myth. i want to know you, your position on the holocaust. do you accept what it was? and what was it? >> translator: i've said before that i am not a historian and when it comes to speaking of the dimensions of the holocaust, it is the historians that should reflect on it, but in general, i can tell you that any crime that happens in history against humanity, including the kril the north ameri crime the nazis committed is reprehensible and condemnable. whatever criminality that committed against the jews, we condemn. the taking of human life is contemptible. it makes no difference whether that life is a jewish life, christian or muslim. for us, it is the same. the taking of human life is something all religion rejects, but this does not mean that on the other hand

in fact there's some potential jaw jaw about to -- >> the fact rouhani comes in and says he wants to negotiate with the united states. he knows the terms. they all know the bottom line, they can't have a nuclear weapon. is he trying to waste our time while they're trying to building a weapon. >> exactly. so the question becomes continued enrichment, verification, inspection, control and all the questions about a nuclear program. >> michael crowley, i hope there's a deal somewhere short of them having a weapon. but is there a deal here potentially? >> well, chris, i think there is potentially a deal, but i think we're still a long way from it. so everyone is kind of dancing and the courtship has begun, the mating ritual and the sides are circling each other. but substantively you haven't seen anybody change their fundamental positions. so, for instance, the iranians among other things, one has to stop threatening to use force. don't put a gun on the table when you begin negotiations. i don't think that you're going to see obama stop the use of force. we want to see the iranians do som

we don't know if there will be a meeting with rouhani or not. we cannot predict what will happen with the syrians but that's one front. on the other front, he's got this big problem as brianna points out, at home. there's a lot of scar tissue here in washington when it comes to the debt ceiling and keeping the government funded and there's a lot of bad feelings to the point where they can't even agree when to meet. if this can get kicked down the road to a certain degree, maybe that would be a win for the president. but again, it would come up again presumably when it comes time to consider raising the debt ceiling and someone said to me, a senior house republican said to me this could go on until christmas. hate to say it. >> what a nightmare that would be. on, he's got the national security issues, whether syria, iran, kenya, so many other problems, all these domestic problems as well, including a possible government shut-down, a debt ceiling that's got to be raised by mid-october. we've covered a lot of presidents and it's juggling -- this is

in fact there's some potential jaw jaw about to -- >> the fact rouhani comes in and says he wants to negotiate with the united states. he knows the terms. they all know the bottom line, they can't have a nuclear weapon. is he trying to waste our time while they're trying to building a weapon. >> exactly. so the question becomes continued enrichment, verification, inspection, control and all the questions about a nuclear program. >> michael crowley, i hope there's a deal somewhere short of them having a weapon. but is there a deal here potentially? >> well, chris, i think there is potentially a deal, but i think we're still a long way from it. so everyone is kind of dancing around the courtship has be gun, the mating ritual and the sides are circling each other. but substantively you haven't seen anybody change their fundamental positions. so, for instance, the iranians among other things, one has to stop threatening to use force. don't put a gun on the table when you begin negotiations. i don't think that you're going to see obama stop the use of force. we want to see the iranians do

so, at 13, rouhani went to study at

. >> just now, i spoke on the phone with president rouhani. the two have discussed on ongoing efforts. we were mindful of the challenges ahead. the very fact that this was the first indication between an american and iranian president since 1979 underscores the deepness between our countries, but also indicated the prospect of moving beyond that difficult test. so, the test will be meaningful, transparent and verifiable actions, which can also bring relief from the comprehensive international sanctions this place. >> watching this news break over twitter, and sitting and observing it, i felt like i was watching the man that i voted for in 2008. very proudly, who ran an entire foreign policy campaign about choosing diplomacy over war. a man who has president, has been drawn to a close, but also expanding our military activities in a variety of countries through counterterrorism and drones and special forces. today, i saw that candidate of 2008. >> our iran policy is a complete failure right now and that's the policy that john mccain is running

and the possible meeting with president rouhani. as always, we'll have potentially some satellite issues. we're always prepared for that there. ali, we have heard everything from rouhani, but explain sort of how much leeway does the new iranian president have in engagement right now and how long does he have? how long will the ayatollah give him to try to work on this deal on his own before stepping in? >> well, chuck, that's the $64,000 question. how much time does he have, indeed. when he was giving his interview to ann curry a few days ago, he says he has a full mandate to negotiate the nuclear issue. he says he's been given full power to do so and he said wit great confidence. the question is how long does he have to do it. the supreme leader has been very clear here. he says he's going to give rouhani some time to get this done, but the supreme leader also said he's very skeptical that america will honor any sort of deal. so they've obviously given hall of fame window, maybe six month, maybe a year, to make a deal. we don't kno

today president rouhani called for a nuclear-free zone in the middle east. and he called specifically at the u.n. when he spoke on israel to sign to nuclear nonproliferation treaty without delay. obviously israel is the only state that has not signed it, presumed to have a very solid size nuclear arsenal. is not israel part of the problem here? >> well, we would support any country and every country abiding by the npt. the reason we're also concern about iran is because they've been producing or on their path to producing and creating a nuclear weapons. there's great concern about what they would do with them. that's a concern shared by the international communicate and that's why we're pressing for it and so that's what the conversation is about. sometimes there's an effort to distract but that's why we're here and why the meeting tonight was so important. >> well, thank you very much. as always. as women, the chief spokesperson for the state department joining us. >>> our second story, the economic doomsday. the shutdown is upon us. to raise the debt ceili

that said, it is clear in rouhani's victory that the iranian people want change. what rouhani is arguing for is ultimately what the green movement stood for as well. so i think there's no question there's a very large segment of the iranian populous that still wants what the green movement stood for. the problem is, they don't really have the leaders they once did. >> well, in the most recent nbc news poll regarding syria, 45% of americans don't know enough to form their own opinion. i'm sure, ken, the same can be said about iran. that just leads to misconceptions. help us understand the realities. how far away are we from a nuclear iran, and what are their goals, as you understand them? >> this, of course, is part of the problem. i spend some time in the book trying to unpack this for people. the problem with the iranians is, of course, they're a very badly fragmented political system. there are all kinds of iranian politicians and political figures and military figures who have very different ideas about their nuclear program. that's why you often see the irania

jim, in the "washington post" op ed that i just referenced, rouhani said he wants to get involved in the talks between the syrian government and the opposition. i'm just curious, we hear about this man. he's a reformer. others say no he's a wolf in sheep's clothing. he's just saying all these nice things. what do you think? how significant is all this talk? >> reporter: well, i've been to iran a number of times. i've always thought the term reformer is overused in iran. in general it's just different shades of hard liners there. this is a regime that's intent on its own survival. that said, there are different approaches. and this is as you said unprecedented outreach. i've spoken to a number of people, and they call it the most significant outreach since the 1979 revolution. and because it is quite broad. you have this invitation to the u.s. president to meet at the unga next week. you have an outreach to jews after years of his predecessor maligning jews and talking about pushing israel into the ocean, et cetera. and now you have this editorial where syria is offering to broker a p

i reiterated to president rouhani what i said in new york. while there will surely be important obstacles to moving forward and success is by no means guaranteed, i believe we can reach a comprehensive solution. >> i believe we can reach a comprehensive solution. it's a remarkable thing for an american president to say about iran. we have been hearing nothing but rhetoric from the u.s. government that iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon. >> no

tonight, a conversation with the new president of iran, hassan rouhani. >> the president said he gives you respect and recognition of iran's right to have mostful nuclear energy. that seems to be an answer to your concerns. >> well, the nuclear issue has turned into an issue of national pride. and a symbol of the perseverance of our the people. and i want to say that the people really have never demanded anything beyond what the law designates. nothing over and above what is rightfully their. therefore the nuclear issue has become a symbol of development of sorts in iran. the modern know-how required to go hand in happened with this technology is a symbol for the iranian people. hand in hand we must move forward to ensure that the international is enforce and once we are abide by that i think everything's settled. >> rose: we talked with manuel barossa. >> because the economic situation seems to improve there's the risk of complacency. there's the risk of some governments say okay, we don't need to go on with reform, that's serious complacency. complacency nationally, we don't need to