President Rouhani:
Iran Able to Fully Resume Nuclear Program
TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday Iran can restore all those aspects of its nuclear program that it has agreed to limit under a deal with six world powers if the agreement is violated by those countries.
Speaking at a ceremony here to mark the first anniversary of the deal, Rouhani said Iran will remain committed to the accord but will also be able to quickly return the nuclear program to any desired level if the agreement is violated.
The accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was reached between Iran and the the U.S., Britain, Russia, France, China, and the Germany — known as the P5+1 — on July 14, 2015 following some 23 months of intensive talks.
Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program and provide enhanced access to international atomic monitors in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
"If, some day, the P5+1 refuses to fulfill its commitments, we will be completely prepared, and, in terms of nuclear capabilities, we are at such a level so as to be able to reach our desired stage in a short period of time,” Rouhani said.
The JCPOA, the president said, "is beneficial to all countries, and to global peace, security, stability, and development, and its violation will be to everyone’s detriment.”
"Anyone that initiates the violation of the deal will be the loser on the international arena,” he added.
The president said everyone should make efforts "toward the implementation and consolidation of the JCPOA and toward benefiting from it in general.”
Suggesting that July 14, the day when the deal was signed, be called the "Day of Interaction with the World,” President Rouhani said the JCPOA proved Iran’s might.
"On this day, the Islamic Republic of Iran proved to the entire world that it has such competence and proficiency in political, technical and legal issues as well as in logic that it can negotiate with big powers to resolve a complex international issue and adequately defend the Iranian nation’s rights.”
President Rouhani went on to enumerate the benefits of the JCPOA for Iran, and thanked those involved in the negotiations that led to the deal, including negotiators.
The president praised the "new atmosphere" created by the accord, saying it can lead to "better economic, defense, and technological activity" for Iran.
"In some fields, including banking, we still haven't reached the expected level, although good steps have been taken in this regard and some connections have been made with big international banks," he said.
Rouhani said one such benefit was that the threat of military invasion against Iran was removed as the nuclear pretext for such an invasion was proven hollow.
It was also made clear that Iran has never been and will never be seeking to obtain nuclear weapons, and "what mattered to us was capabilities in enrichment as a technical and scientific issue,” he added.
"Negotiations…made it clear that nuclear activities and enrichment are Iran’s inalienable rights,” Rouhani said, adding thanks to the JCPOA, sanctions on arms sales have also been lifted and Iran can upgrade its defensive and military might.
For many Iranians, however, the heavily touted economic benefits that were to be ushered in by the deal haven’t materialized quickly enough.
Three quarters of Iranians surveyed in a recent poll conducted by IranPoll.com for the University of Maryland said they had seen no improvement in Iran’s economy since the nuclear deal was reached. About 1,000 Iranians were canvassed for the poll.
"Iran paid a huge price,” the Persian daily Kayhan said Tuesday in an editorial that reflected the poll findings. "The public is asking: what has the nuclear deal accomplished for people’s livelihood and for the dignity of Islamic Iran?”
The poll also showed that Rouhani’s lead over his possible election rival, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former Iranian president, was narrowing.
Iranian officials have accused the U.S. of deliberately discouraging business dealings with Iran.
The plan by Boeing Co. to sell 80 passenger aircraft to Iran’s national carrier has faced opposition from U.S. Congress, with some lawmakers seeking to block the $17.6-billion deal.
Speaking at a ceremony here to mark the first anniversary of the deal, Rouhani said Iran will remain committed to the accord but will also be able to quickly return the nuclear program to any desired level if the agreement is violated.
The accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was reached between Iran and the the U.S., Britain, Russia, France, China, and the Germany — known as the P5+1 — on July 14, 2015 following some 23 months of intensive talks.
Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program and provide enhanced access to international atomic monitors in return for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
"If, some day, the P5+1 refuses to fulfill its commitments, we will be completely prepared, and, in terms of nuclear capabilities, we are at such a level so as to be able to reach our desired stage in a short period of time,” Rouhani said.
The JCPOA, the president said, "is beneficial to all countries, and to global peace, security, stability, and development, and its violation will be to everyone’s detriment.”
"Anyone that initiates the violation of the deal will be the loser on the international arena,” he added.
The president said everyone should make efforts "toward the implementation and consolidation of the JCPOA and toward benefiting from it in general.”
Suggesting that July 14, the day when the deal was signed, be called the "Day of Interaction with the World,” President Rouhani said the JCPOA proved Iran’s might.
"On this day, the Islamic Republic of Iran proved to the entire world that it has such competence and proficiency in political, technical and legal issues as well as in logic that it can negotiate with big powers to resolve a complex international issue and adequately defend the Iranian nation’s rights.”
President Rouhani went on to enumerate the benefits of the JCPOA for Iran, and thanked those involved in the negotiations that led to the deal, including negotiators.
The president praised the "new atmosphere" created by the accord, saying it can lead to "better economic, defense, and technological activity" for Iran.
"In some fields, including banking, we still haven't reached the expected level, although good steps have been taken in this regard and some connections have been made with big international banks," he said.
Rouhani said one such benefit was that the threat of military invasion against Iran was removed as the nuclear pretext for such an invasion was proven hollow.
It was also made clear that Iran has never been and will never be seeking to obtain nuclear weapons, and "what mattered to us was capabilities in enrichment as a technical and scientific issue,” he added.
"Negotiations…made it clear that nuclear activities and enrichment are Iran’s inalienable rights,” Rouhani said, adding thanks to the JCPOA, sanctions on arms sales have also been lifted and Iran can upgrade its defensive and military might.
For many Iranians, however, the heavily touted economic benefits that were to be ushered in by the deal haven’t materialized quickly enough.
Three quarters of Iranians surveyed in a recent poll conducted by IranPoll.com for the University of Maryland said they had seen no improvement in Iran’s economy since the nuclear deal was reached. About 1,000 Iranians were canvassed for the poll.
"Iran paid a huge price,” the Persian daily Kayhan said Tuesday in an editorial that reflected the poll findings. "The public is asking: what has the nuclear deal accomplished for people’s livelihood and for the dignity of Islamic Iran?”
The poll also showed that Rouhani’s lead over his possible election rival, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the former Iranian president, was narrowing.
Iranian officials have accused the U.S. of deliberately discouraging business dealings with Iran.
The plan by Boeing Co. to sell 80 passenger aircraft to Iran’s national carrier has faced opposition from U.S. Congress, with some lawmakers seeking to block the $17.6-billion deal.