Iran’s president defends interim nuclear deal
President Hassan Rouhani has spoken out in favour of the deal done over Iran's nuclear programme with Western powers in return for a reduction in sanctions
Iran’s president defended an interim nuclear deal that eases some of the international community’s crippling economic sanctions in return for a freeze on part of the Islamic Republic’s uranium enrichment activities, saying on Saturday that improving the economy is as important as maintaining a peaceful nuclear programme.
Since Iran signed the interim agreement last month with world powers, President Hassan Rouhani has been trying to convince sceptics and hard-liners at home that Iran is not compromising on key issues of national sovereignty. It’s a task that will become all the more difficult for the moderate leader as Tehran moves toward a final accord six months from now.
“Nuclear technology and uranium enrichment is our definite right,” Rouhani said in a speech to university students that was broadcast live on state TV. “But progress, better living conditions and welfare for the people is also our definite right. Breaking and dismantling the architecture of the ominous and oppressive sanctions is also our definite right.”
A strict sanction regime levelled by Western powers on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme has taken an immense toll on the nation’s economy, and Rouhani was elected in a landslide earlier this year with the expectation that he would quickly fix the economic malaise. At times, he has tried to frame the debate over the nuclear deal in economic terms, stressing the boost it would give to the economy.
“Centrifuges should spin. But the life of people and the economy also need to spin,” he added. “Without economic might, our national might won’t be enhanced.”
“You saw what countries got angry with the deal and you saw what a blow was inflicted on the Zionists.”
Economists blamed Iran’s economic malaise on a combination of sanctions and mismanagement under Rouhani’s predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But Rouhani has vowed to revive the economy through better management at home and constructive interaction with the outside world.