The story: In his final interview before leaving office, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has warned that his successor Ebrahim Raisi will not reach a deal with the US either if a key piece of legislation remains in effect.

Separately, a controversial video has emerged of late former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani—Rouhani’s mentor—quoting Iran’s supreme leader as strongly opposing a normalization of ties with the US, and declaring that he himself will “answer before God” for any damaging consequences of such a stance.

The coverage: In an interview on Aug. 2, outgoing moderate President Rouhani...