Iran’s President Pledges Closer Ties with Neighbors


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to improving relations with neighboring states, emphasizing that such good ties will benefit the entire region.

“We will establish closer ties with the neighboring countries. Although there are one or two neighbors which have not shown willingness yet, we have sent them the signal for good relations,” the president said in an address to a meeting held on the occasion of Industry and Mine Day, here in Tehran on Tuesday.

Rouhani also made it clear that Tehran has done and will do its utmost “to avert war and discord in the region”, and reiterated that extremism, language of force and meddling in the affairs of other countries do not benefit any side at all.

“We deem good relations, regional security and stability necessary not only for our country's industry, but also for our nation and other regional nations,” President Rouhani explained.

The Iranian president also pointed to the US-led sanctions imposed against his country and said the structure of the sanctions have already cracked and nobody can put them back in place.

He also touched on the upcoming nuclear talks between the Islamic Republic and six world powers, ensuring that the Iranian negotiators can handle the issue very well.

“The Foreign Ministry and the negotiating team have the necessary tact to negotiate with the six world powers and know the negotiation style as they have sufficient experience (in this regard).”

Rouhani underscored that Iran will continue the “tough” nuclear talks until achieving “the ultimate success.”
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) are scheduled to hold a fresh round of high-profile talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna on July 2 with the aim of drafting a comprehensive deal to resolve the decade-long standoff over Tehran's peaceful nuclear energy program.