National Unity, Key to JCPOA Achievement: President Rouhani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday underlined the significance of several factors including the solidarity of Iranian people as well as the Leader’s guidelines in the finalization and implementation of the comprehensive nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.
Addressing a ceremony held in Tehran to appreciate the efforts of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team, Rouhani praised the Iranian nation for their resistance against pressures imposed by global powers, saying that the Iranian people never feared of superpowers and never surrendered.
“Whenever we stayed together, we won,” the Iranian president stressed, pointing to the difficulties of negotiations that led to the nuclear deal known as JCPOA.
He also appreciated the guidelines the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei provided for the government, stressing that the precise frameworks outlined by the Leader led to the victory.
“If it was not for the Leader, for the national solidarity and unity, the achievements would be less than this, or we might even have no achievement,” he added.
He also praised the expertise of Iranian nuclear negotiating team, saying the deal was not possible without their capabilities and courage.
During the ceremony, Rouhani awarded a number of the country’s highest government-bestowed honors to the foreign minister, defense minister and nuclear chief for their role and efforts in the achievement of a nuclear deal with world powers.
The ceremony was held on Monday morning to commemorate the families of the Iranian nuclear scientists that have been martyred and the officials and staff who had a role in a long process of negotiations that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a lasting nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was given the First-Class Order of Merit and Management, while Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan were awarded the First-Class Order of Courage.
The other members of the Iranian team of negotiators, engaged in the diplomatic, legal and technical fields, were also given the Second-Class Order of Merit, the Third-Class Order of Service, and Golden Signs for their efforts.
The president also gave awards to the families of the martyred nuclear scientists.
“What helped the team of nuclear negotiators to fulfill such duty was the Iranian nation’s vigilance and resistance, which paralyzed the weapon of sanctions and forced the world’s big powers to respect (Iran),” Zarif said after receiving his medal.
The JCPOA came into force on January 16, terminating all nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.
