Iran seeking constructive interaction with the world
President-elect Hassan Rohani has said that the new Iranian government is seeking to promote constructive interaction with the world.
“The government of prudence and hope is seeking constructive interaction with the world, moderation, and the realization of national objectives,” Rohani said in a press conference in Tehran on Monday.
He also said that the new government believed that the Iranian people’s active participation in the political process had created a new opportunity for the country to enhance interaction with the world.
“Given the current situation (in the world) that there are many tensions in political and economic spheres, interaction with Iran and the new government will benefit the region and the world,” he said.
Enhanced ties with neighbors, Iran’s first foreign policy priority
The first priority in Iran’s foreign policy will be the promotion of friendly and close relations with all its neighbors based on mutual respect and the principle of good neighborliness, he said.
He also highlighted the importance of brotherly relations with Persian Gulf Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia, and expressed hope that the new Iranian government would be able to improve friendly ties with these countries.
Syrian people should resolve political crisis
Commenting on the Syria crisis, Rohani said that the crisis should be resolved by the Syrian people, adding that the people should make the final decision about their destiny.
Iran is opposed to terrorism and is also opposed to foreign interference in Syria’s internal affairs, he said.
“We hope that calm and peace will return to Syria with the help of all regional countries and that the Syrian nation will achieve their goal,” he said.
Iran will continue nuclear talks more actively
On the process of talks between Iran and the six major powers, namely the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany, which are known as the P5+1 group, about the dispute over the country’s nuclear program, Rohani said that his government would continue talks with the 5+1 group more actively.
“We believe that the solution to the nuclear issue can only be found through dialogue. Threat is not effective, not sanctions, and the solution is holding negotiations,” he said.
Asked whether he will meet some Western countries’ demands that Iran should halt uranium enrichment, he said that the era of suspension had come to an end.
“We are now in a special situation, and I think that there are many ways to build confidence,” he said.
Rohani formerly served as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and was Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator in the talks with Britain, France, and Germany between 2003 and 2005.
Iran agreed to temporarily suspend uranium enrichment-related activities in 2004.
Old wounds in Tehran-Washington ties should heal
On the White House statement on Iran’s presidential election results, he said that the relationship between Iran and the United States had become a complicated and difficult issue.
“There are old wounds that should be healed prudently, and we certainly will not be seeking tension … but any talk of direct negotiations should be based on mutual interests and on an equal footing,” he said.
The United States must not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs and must recognize Iran’s legitimate rights, including nuclear rights, and must abandon its unilateralist and tyrannical policies toward Iran, he said, adding “In such a situation, if we feel that there is goodwill, the ground will be prepared.”
The White House said in a statement on Saturday, “The United States remains ready to engage the Iranian government directly in order to reach a diplomatic solution that will fully address the international community’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.”
