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Rouhani vows transparency on nuclear issue

Iran is ready to show more transparency on its nuclear programme, says President-elect Hassan Rouhani.
In his first news conference since Friday's election, Mr Rouhani described as "unfair" sanctions imposed on his country. He also said Tehran would not suspend uranium enrichment activities.
The West suspects Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons. Iran says its programme is entirely peaceful.
The UK said it hoped Mr Rouhani would act on his pledge to resolve the issue.
"The government hopes that following Dr Rouhani's election, the Iranian government will take up the opportunity of a new relationship with the international community by making every effort to reach a negotiated settlement on the nuclear issue," said UK Foreign Minister William Hague.
At his news conference, which covered a wide range of issues, Mr Rouhani also said:

Analysis

image of Mohsen Asgari Mohsen Asgari BBC News, Tehran
The conference hall of the Strategic Research Centre in Tehran was crammed full of journalists and supporters of Mr Rouhani.
The national anthem played on his arrival. He smiled and waved to the audience. Many journalists who voted for him could not stop clapping or yelling congratulations.
He gave diplomatic answers to sharp questions from journalists, proving he is a serious conservative politician moving towards moderation.
The BBC found its way onto the list of journalists being allowed to ask questions. After eight years of being banned from all these gatherings, it was a triumph.
His answer to my question was short. When I asked whether he had any plan to improve Iran's relations with the UK, he looked at me very carefully with a beatific smile, and answered: "I will try to solve Iran's problems with all countries recognised by the Islamic Republic on the basis of mutual respect and trust, and England is not an exception."
  • His government would work towards "constructive interaction with the world", thanking Iranians for "choosing moderation"
  • Efforts to end continuing fighting in Syria and restore stability must rest with "the Syrian people"
  • The economy would be his main priority
  • Relations between Iran and the US were "an old wound that needs to be healed"
The conference ended abruptly when a man in the audience shouted that reformist leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, who is currently under house arrest, should be president.
Mr Rouhani, a long-standing political figure in Iran, won just more than 50% of the vote in the election, avoiding a run-off vote.
Iran's president has limited powers, with key policy decisions being taken by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Key stumbling block "Our nuclear programmes are completely transparent," Mr Rouhani told a packed hall in the capital Tehran.
"But we are ready to show greater transparency and make clear for the whole world that the steps of the Islamic Republic of Iran are completely within international frameworks," he said.
But he stressed that he would oppose halting Iran's uranium enrichment - a key stumbling block in the continuing talks between Tehran and world powers.

“Start Quote

The sanctions are unfair, the Iranian people are suffering”
Hassan Rouhani Iranian President-elect
Iran has been the target of four rounds of UN sanctions and numerous UN Security Council resolutions calling on it to cease enrichment work.
Israel has threatened to carry out air strikes on its long-time foe if its enrichment activities do not stop.
But on Monday, Mr Rouhani said: "The sanctions are unfair, the Iranian people are suffering, and our (nuclear) activities are legal.
"These sanctions are illegal and only benefit Israel."
Western hopes Western powers have indicated they are willing to engage with the new Iranian president - who is seen as moderate compared with the other five contenders.
"If [Mr Rouhani] lives up to his obligations under the UN Security Council resolutions to come clean on this illicit nuclear programme, he will find a partner in us," White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough told CBS News.

Election results

  • Hassan Rouhani: 18,613,329
  • Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf: 6,077,292
  • Saeed Jalili: 4,168,946
  • Mohsen Rezai: 3,884,412
  • Ali Akbar Velayati: 2,268,753
  • Mohammad Gharazi: 446,015
  • Votes cast: 36,704,156
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed hopes for a "swift diplomatic solution" to the Iranian nuclear issue.
Russia on Sunday congratulated Mr Rouhani on his victory. President Vladimir Putin "expressed confidence Hassan Rouhani's work will... further strengthen Russian-Iranian relations", said the Kremlin.
Tens of thousands of Iranians took to the streets after the results were announced on Saturday, many wearing Mr Rouhani's election colour of purple, but others dressed in the green of the reformist movement.
Mr Rouhani has already begun discussions on his cabinet with Ali Larijani, speaker for Iran's parliament, reported Iran's semi-official Isna news agency.
Parliament must approve his selections when he takes office in August.
Your comments (99)

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Comments

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  • Comment number 99.

    92. 158notout

    Israel got into WB cos in 1967, Israel was attacked unprovoked by its neighbors with the intent of them committing religious genocide. Islam is the root cause of every problem in the M/E. Israel should continue building in WB until Islam moves into the 21st century, all those Jews being driven out of Europe by hate filled Muslim immigrants will be in need of new home.
  • +2

    Comment number 98.

    To #92 158noout - I've been studying the situation with Israel for nearly 20 years. Read dozens of books from both sides. Propaganda comes from both sides. To weed through the sludge is a challenge, but Israel is not the aggressor when it comes to attacks. The territory issue is a very complex one, not cut and dry, but facts are few Arabs lived in Palestine prior to 1870s Jewish land renovations.
  • +5

    Comment number 97.

    94.sa25
    Just now
    "Who the hell rates these comments?! It seriously makes no sense...Oh wait, that will be the Iranians who have been employed by the government to spread its propoganda.... YAY!"

    ..or perhaps the people rating these comments are a significant and growing portion of the Western population who no longer trust the lies they're fed by the politicians and the mainstream media!
  • 0

    Comment number 96.

    sa25 (78)
    "Ahmadinejad is contacted by some officials [...] his total votes he was told, were 16 Million but they will add an extra 8 Million votes and say he got 24 Million"

    I hope they remember to make sure that the total number of votes cast is believable. If the number is bigger than the size of the electorate, that's just arrogance coupled with stupidity, which would be a bad start.
  • +1

    Comment number 95.

    It's tempting to think that things will get better in Iran for Iranians, and for the issue's that surround it.

    That's also what I thought when Barrack Obama was sworn into the US Presidency,

    The moral of the story is: Wait, watch, listen.
    This man's deeds will speak louder than his words.

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