Iranian President Hassan Rohani spoke in Tehran today about the framework agreement reached yesterday in Lausanne between Iran and the 5+1, saying this common ground is the first step in Iran’s interaction with the world. He added that the Islamic Republic wants to end tension and hostility with all countries that have been regarded as enemies.
A day after the parties announced they had reached a framework agreement, President Rohani spoke of a new era in Iranian foreign relations based on “constructive interaction with the world”.
He stressed that the Islamic Republic will “stretch out its hand in friendship” to any country that will step forward in mutual respect, adding that if relations with any country are cold, Iran will seek to improve them; if relations are contentious and aggressive, Iran will seek an end to tensions and aggression.
Rohani spoke of the common ground reached in Lausanne as a “win-win” situation for the parties. The statement, which was announced on Thursday, covers the lifting of sanctions against Iran in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.
“The date of reaching this political common ground on nuclear issues will remain in the historical consciousness of the people of Iran,” Rohani said, adding that the agreement “preserves Iran’s nuclear rights, eliminates the sanctions and achieves constructive interaction with the world”.
The Iranian president said: “With this political agreement, the 5+1 has accepted that Iran can engage in enrichment activities in the country, whereas until now they kept saying enrichment activities inside Iran were a threat to the region and the world.”
He added that the Fordo nuclear site will remain open and more than 1,000 centrifuges at the site will remain there. All sanctions and the six UN resolutions will be cancelled on the day the agreement is executed, Rohani added.
President Rohani emphasized that the Islamic Republic will honour all commitments made in the negotiations: “We do not care for deceit and expect the other parties to honour their commitments.”
The parties will now move into the final stage of the negotiations: the drafting of a detailed agreement that must be finalized by June 30.
