Iran rejects Obama's request to suspend nuclear activities for 10 years

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that US President Barack Obama’s remarks regarding his country’s nuclear programme are meant to appease the American public and to counter the propaganda of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Zarif also stressed that Iran will not yield to the excessive demands made by the other side.

Obama said on Monday that Iran must commit itself to a verifiable freeze on nuclear activities for at least 10 years in order for a comprehensive nuclear deal to be reached.

The FARS news agency quoted Zarif as saying on Tuesday that, “Mr Obama’s remarks clearly show reality that the US, which has militarily threatened the Islamic Republic of Iran directly and indirectly and imposed numerous cruel and illegal sanctions, has come to [the] conclusion that the policy of threat and sanctions [has] failed and such measures have not and will not be able to counter the Iranian nation’s firm will and determination to acquire peaceful nuclear technology and make progress in using it.”

Zarif described Obama’s requests as “unacceptable”, adding that they were meant to appease the American public and confront the propaganda of Netanyahu and other extremists who oppose negotiations. “Negotiation is no doubt the only option for the world to settle Iran’s nuclear issue, and there is no choice other than this,” he added, according to FARS.

The minister also said that Iran has genuinely taken part in the negotiations and will continue with these negotiations until it obtains the Iranian people’s nuclear rights. “The Islamic Republic of Iran will not surrender to the other side’s excessive demands and illogical positions,” he added.