Rohani pledges ‘constructive interaction’ with world via moderate policy

Iran’s president-elect Hassan Rohani says he will seek “constructive interaction” with the world through a moderate policy after he takes the oath of office in early August.

Rohani, who was speaking in his first press conference on Monday, said his administration of “Prudence and Hope” will follow a “moderate” policy line in serving national objectives.

“Your administration, i.e. the Administration of Prudence and Hope, will deliver on its promises in saving the economy, reviving ethics and interacting constructively with the world through a moderate policy,” Rohani noted.

Rohani said his administration will take steps to ease the “brutal sanctions” which have been imposed against Iran.

“The Iranian nation has not done anything wrong to deserve these sanctions. Sanctions are an outdated instrument and they will harm the West more than Iran due to their economic turmoil,” he added.

Rohani, a former chief nuclear negotiator, said Iran will manage to have the sanctions eased by showing “more transparency” and trying to “build confidence” with the world.

“Iran’s nuclear [energy] programs are completely transparent but we are ready to show more transparency and make clear for the whole world that the measures taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran are completely within international frameworks,” Rohani pointed out.

He added that the era of sanctions is over and emphasized that Iran’s nuclear energy activities have been legal and in line with international regulations.

“I believe that mutual trust and greater transparency within the framework of international rules and regulations are solutions to put an end to sanctions,” the newly-elected president stated.

Rohani said the Iranian people created a new opportunity for interaction with the world through their active participation and mass turnout in the election.

He expressed hope that “all countries will use this opportunity because using this opportunity will result in mutual interests being met.”

“Under the present circumstances that the region and the entire world are faced with numerous economic and political tensions, interaction with the Islamic Republic will not only be beneficial for Iran but also the region and the world,” the president-elect stated.

Rohani added that in its foreign policy his administration would give priority to “amicable and close” relations with all neighboring countries based on good neighborliness, and mutual respect and interests.

Asked about the US willingness to engage in direct talks with Iran, Rohani said that everyone “must know that the next administration will never back down from the Iranian nation’s inalienable rights and based on this, we are ready to help alleviate tensions.”

Describing the issue of Iran-US relations as “complicated and difficult”, he said there is an old wound that needs to be treated with prudence but stressed that Iran was not after heightening tensions.

The president-elect said any negotiation with the US must be based on “mutual respect and interests” and meet certain conditions.

“Firstly, as stipulated in the Algiers Accord, the Americans must state that they will never interfere in Iran’s internal affairs; second, they [must] recognize all the inalienable rights of the Iranian nation, including the nuclear one, and third they [must] abolish unilateral and bullying policies toward Iran, and … when such conditions [are met], the way will be paved [for talks],” Rohani said.

He also highlighted the significance of ties with the Persian Gulf littoral states and Arab countries and said, “The Persian Gulf has strategic importance both in terms of politics and economy.”

In response to a question about ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia in the next administration, Rohani said the ground has been prepared for the two countries to have economic, cultural and political interaction and cooperation.

Asked about the ongoing crisis in Syria, Rohani emphasized that the Syrian issue should be resolved only by Syrians.

“The final decision-maker about the fate of Syria is the Syrian nation,” he added.

“We oppose terrorism, civil war and that other countries want to interfere in Syria’s internal affairs,” Rohani pointed out.

He expressed hope peace and tranquility would be restored in Syria with the help of regional and world countries and that the demands of the people would be met there.

Asked about his administration’s most important measure to improve the economy, Rohani said revamping the economic and living conditions of the people was the first priority of his administration.

He said that the primary measure needed to improve living conditions was to meet the urgent requirements of the people, including the supply of their basic needs.

Rohani said that the second priority was to create peace and stability in the country’s economy, adding that the existing economic potentialities must be realized and activated.

He also noted that liquidity as well as public savings in the country should be guided toward boosting production, which will lead to stability in all markets.

The president-elect also stressed that the key to solve unemployment was to help the economy flourish and to improve business environment.