Rouhani: Iran Won’t Give Up One Iota of Nuclear Rights

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stressed Tuesday that no progress can be made in the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear energy program unless the West reciprocates Iran’s “rhetoric of respect.”

Rouhani further stated that the West must realize that “the rhetoric of the Iranian administration is one of prudence and the rhetoric of the nation is also one of civility accompanied by resistance and perseverance; and if their [the Westerners’] language is not one of respect as well, no progress will be made.”

“The West must understand that it will not achieve the least success through sanctions and pressure against the Iranian nation,” he added, and vowed that the Iranian “government will not give up one iota of its absolute rights” on the nuclear issue.”

In parallel, he mentioned that “if the West uses the language of logic, reason and mutual interests on an equal footing, the Iranian administration is also ready to respond in the language of wisdom, prudence and logic,” Rouhani said.
Meanwhile, the Iranian President described as “expedient” his recent measure to task the Foreign Ministry with conducting nuclear talks with the P5+1 group of world powers.

“We hope that we would be able to take successful steps in these talks too,” he said, adding, “The first negotiations regarding this issue [Iran’s nuclear energy program] may be held in the coming weeks in New York and the subsequent talks will continue at a venue that will be determined for the talks with the P5+1.”

Rouhani is scheduled to head a delegation to New York later this month to take part in the 68th session of the United Nations’ General Assembly.
This comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who also represents the P5+1, have agreed to meet on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly session to discuss the resumption of negotiations over Iran’s civilian nuclear work.

Iran and the P5+1 have held several rounds of talks on a range of issues, with the main focus being on Iran’s nuclear energy program.
Tehran strongly rejects the claim against its nuclear energy program, maintaining that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.