He said that Iran has kept to its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, adding that “Iran’s patience has a limit”.
IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK
He said that if the United States wanted an agreement beyond the 2015 nuclear deal it has abandoned “you have to pay more” and appeared to reject talks with U.S. President Donald Trump for now.
Rouhani criticized the American approach toward negotiations by saying that “they are inviting us to negotiations, but they escaping from the treaty”.
“Our response to the negotiations under sanctions is ‘no’”, said Iranian president.
“In spite of the American withdrawal from the JCPOA, and for one year, Iran remained fully faithful to all its nuclear commitments in accordance with the JCPOA. Out of respect for the Security Council resolution, we provided Europe with the opportunity to fulfill its 11 commitments made to compensate the US withdrawal. However, unfortunately, we only heard beautiful words while witnessing no effective measure,” he added.
“It has now become clear for all that the United States turns back to its commitments and Europe is unable and incapable of fulfilling its commitments. We even adopted a step-by-step approach in implementing paragraphs 26 and 36 of the JCPOA. And we remain committed to our promises in the deal. However, our patience has a limit; When the US does not respect the United Nations Security Council, and when Europe displays inability, the only way shall be to rely on national dignity, pride and strength. They call us to negotiation while they run away from treaties and deals. We negotiated with the incumbent US government on the 5+1 negotiating table; however, they failed to honor the commitment made by their predecessor”, he underlined.
“On behalf of my nation and state, I would like to announce that our response to any negotiation under sanctions is negative. The government and people of Iran have remained steadfast against the harshest sanctions in the past one and a half years ago and will never negotiate with an enemy that seeks to make Iran surrender with the weapon of poverty, pressure and sanction,” Rouhani said.
“If you require a positive answer, and as declared by the leader of the Islamic Revolution, the only way for talks to begin is return to commitments and compliance,” he underlined.
Rouhani said the U.S. has no business and is not welcome in the region and must leave it, stressing that the security of the Persian Gulf can be ensured only by neighbors not outsiders.
“The security of the region is provided through the pull-out of American military forces not by their weapons and intervention. The ultimate way to [achieving] peace and security in the Middle East is ‘democracy inside, diplomacy outside”, he said.
“Security cannot be bought or provided by foreign governments. Peace, security and independence of our neighbors are that of our own. The US is not our neighbor. It is the Islamic Republic of Iran that is your neighbor … we are neighbors to each other not with the U.S.,” he added.
Rouhani warned that with tensions high and conflicts flaring, the region was “on the edge of collapse.”
Rouhani said that the United States had failed to solve conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria and wasn’t capable of playing a role in calming tensions and bringing peace to the region now.
He said that his “Hormuz Peace Endeavor” is designed to include all countries of the region and aims to expand cooperation beyond regional security.
