Rouhani: Iran Will Never Yield to U.S. Pressure for Talks
TEHRAN (Press TV) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says the country will never give in to negotiations from a position of weakness, emphasizing that the U.S. policy of "maximum pressure” on Iran has failed to achieve its goals.
Rouhani made the remarks in a press conference with domestic and international media in Tehran on Sunday, saying, "All [economic] indexes show that we have weathered [the worst phase of] the U.S. maximum pressure [policy]. Americans have reached the conclusion that the path they have chosen [for dealing with Iran] has been based on a wrong strategy.”
He added, "What they thought that they could use maximum pressure to make us sit at the negotiating table from a position of weakness is not possible [to take place] and we have talked to the world with power and dignity, but we will never negotiate from a position of weakness.”
The president said sanctions had led to troubles for the Iranian people, affecting their lives.
But, Rouhani pointed out, the sanctions will bear no fruit for the enemies.
In response to a question about the outcome of Iran’s efforts to implement its proposed plan, known as the Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE), for ensuring security in the Persian Gulf, Rouhani said, "It is clear to the world that there will be no peace in this region without Iran’s presence. Regional stability occurs in the presence of an important and powerful country such as Iran.”
He added that the HOPE initiative had been proposed to all countries during the 2019 United Nations General Assembly and sent to the secretary general as well as regional states and other countries, inviting them to participate.
Rouhani emphasized that every country in the region should enjoy peace without exception, otherwise the region would see stability fade away.
He said Iran insists on the initiative as "one of the best solutions to establish sustainable security in this region.”
In an address to the 74th session of the General Assembly on September 25, 2019, President Rouhani said as a steward of maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Iran invites all countries that are affected by developments in the strategic region to join the country’s new regional peace initiative.
Asked about the consequences of the potential re-election of Donald Trump as the US president, Rouhani said, "The ruling party in the United States does not matter to us. What is important to us is our own national interests.”
He added that the United States started to exert maximum pressure on Iran more than 20 months ago but Tehran has managed to better the conditions over the past six months.
"Therefore, sanctions and maximum pressure have failed. We are faced with better circumstances in the region in comparison with two years ago and we have unity in the country.”
Rouhani made the remarks in a press conference with domestic and international media in Tehran on Sunday, saying, "All [economic] indexes show that we have weathered [the worst phase of] the U.S. maximum pressure [policy]. Americans have reached the conclusion that the path they have chosen [for dealing with Iran] has been based on a wrong strategy.”
He added, "What they thought that they could use maximum pressure to make us sit at the negotiating table from a position of weakness is not possible [to take place] and we have talked to the world with power and dignity, but we will never negotiate from a position of weakness.”
The president said sanctions had led to troubles for the Iranian people, affecting their lives.
But, Rouhani pointed out, the sanctions will bear no fruit for the enemies.
In response to a question about the outcome of Iran’s efforts to implement its proposed plan, known as the Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE), for ensuring security in the Persian Gulf, Rouhani said, "It is clear to the world that there will be no peace in this region without Iran’s presence. Regional stability occurs in the presence of an important and powerful country such as Iran.”
He added that the HOPE initiative had been proposed to all countries during the 2019 United Nations General Assembly and sent to the secretary general as well as regional states and other countries, inviting them to participate.
Rouhani emphasized that every country in the region should enjoy peace without exception, otherwise the region would see stability fade away.
He said Iran insists on the initiative as "one of the best solutions to establish sustainable security in this region.”
In an address to the 74th session of the General Assembly on September 25, 2019, President Rouhani said as a steward of maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Iran invites all countries that are affected by developments in the strategic region to join the country’s new regional peace initiative.
Asked about the consequences of the potential re-election of Donald Trump as the US president, Rouhani said, "The ruling party in the United States does not matter to us. What is important to us is our own national interests.”
He added that the United States started to exert maximum pressure on Iran more than 20 months ago but Tehran has managed to better the conditions over the past six months.
"Therefore, sanctions and maximum pressure have failed. We are faced with better circumstances in the region in comparison with two years ago and we have unity in the country.”