Iranian President Hassan Rohani says Iran is prepared to enter into negotiations with the West without any preconditions.
Rohani stressed that mutual interests must be considered and all the rights of the people of Iran, including their nuclear rights and Iran’s right to enrich uranium domestically within the framework of international regulations, must be protected.
His speech came amidst the military parades that are held annually in Iran to mark the beginning of the eight-year Iran-Iraq War.
Rohani stressed that Iranian armed forces are a “deterrent and defensive” force and as such are “a cause of stability in the region without posing any threats to their neighbours.”
He added: “Iran is a large, civilized and powerful country, and the language of force and power should not be used with this country and its people.”
Rohani maintained: “War and diplomacy do not go together, and no logical and free nation will accept talk of war and diplomacy at the same table.”
Rohani is scheduled to travel to New York in the coming days to participate in the UN General Assembly.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has lent his support for some level of flexibility in the nuclear talks, giving Rohani more room to negotiate with the West.
Rohani went on to add that every effort must be made to resolve the conflict in Syria by bringing the parties to the negotiation table.
Without directly naming Israel, Rohani said: “Only a regime that has gone against all international agreements on weapons of mass destruction and has stored all forms of nuclear and chemical weapons is a real threat to the region.”
