Rouhani: Iran does not compromise on its principles to achieve its interests

Iran “does not compromise on its principles, but it negotiates to achieve its interests”, President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday.

In a speech before the Conference of National Economy in Tehran, Rouhani explained that the countries taking part in the nuclear negotiations seek to pursue their interests and meet their demands.

He stressed that his country would not compromise on its principles, and that the negotiations included commitments for each of the negotiating parties, noting that the agreement was a bridge between the demands of the two parties.

He pointed out that the agreement led to the lifting of a number of sanctions imposed on various sectors, including the automotive, petrochemical and navigation. Moreover, the agreement, according to Rouhani, resulted in restoring part of Iran’s retained money, noting that Iran has provided greater transparency over its nuclear programme in return.

Rouhani called for fighting the financial monopoly and creating competition within the Iranian economy, stressing that the economic problems and the spread of corruption cannot be faced without the elimination of monopoly.

The Iranian president added that Tehran’s political experience has shown that there can be no sustainable economic development in isolation from the world, stressing at the same time that Iran did not give up its principles and values.