DHAKA: Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that its ‘rights to enrichment’ of uranium were ‘red lines’ that would not be crossed and that the Islamic Republic had acted rationally and tactfully during nuclear negotiations, Iranian media reported.

‘For us there are red lines that cannot be crossed. National interests are our red lines that include our rights under the framework of international regulations and [uranium] enrichment in Iran,’ he said during a speech at the National Assembly.

Iran’s student news agency (ISNA) said, reports The Jerusalem Post.

‘We have said to the negotiating sides that we will not answer to any threat, sanction, humiliation or discrimination. The Islamic Republic has not and will not bow its head to threats from any authority,’ he added, calling sanctions ‘an illegal and ineffective solution’.

‘For Iran, the main road to resolve issues and reaching an international political solution is dialogue, dialogue and dialogue,’ the Iranian president continued.

‘The success of negotiations means peace and stability to the region and the world.’

On Saturday, Iran and six world powers failed in talks to clinch a deal to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme but said differences had narrowed and they would resume negotiations in 10 days to try to end the decade-old standoff.

Rouhani, who was elected in June, is the chief architect of Iran’s diplomatic drive for a nuclear deal to alleviate harsh economic sanctions on its oil and banking industries.

BDST: 1437 HRS, NOV 10, 2013
RoR/BSK