By MEMRI 16-7-2015: http://tinyurl.com/nrotc59
On July
14, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivered a speech detailing the
accomplishments of the new nuclear deal. President Rouhani declared that
prayers of the Iranian nation had been answered and described the deal as a
"win-win," adding that Iran was not seeking a nuclear bomb.
Following
are excerpts:
Rouhani: "I hereby declare to the great
Iranian people that their prayers have been answered. Today, we are at an
important stage in the history of our state and of our [Islamic] Revolution,
and in the history of conditions in the region – conditions that, I must say,
have continued for the past 12 years, and which were accompanied by illusions
on the part of the superpowers, which spread them throughout society and
throughout public opinion. The page has been turned over, and a new page has
begun.
"In order to resolve the nuclear issue, we had to take
necessary steps in various areas. With regard to politics, we had to prepare
the necessary preliminary political steps. With regard to [Iranian] public
opinion, [we had to make] them realize that the negotiations were not a
recitation of statements, but a give and take. Negotiations mean paying money
and buying the desired house. We did not seek charity or to get something for
free. We sought negotiations, and sought to advance a fair and just give and
take, based on national interests. We have always stressed the point that these
negotiations would not be a 'win-lose' situation, because such talks are not
viable. If negotiations are 'win-lose,' they will not be lasting. Negotiations
and agreements will be durable and lasting when they are win-win situations for
both parties. We explained this to our society, and our negotiation team began
the talks on this basis 23 months ago.
"From the day that I was sworn in [as president], I
said that the West would be able to engage in talks with us if it abandons the path
of threats and humiliation and embarks upon a path of respect. What was
achieved today under the title of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is
rooted in dialogue on the part of Iran and respect on the part of the P5+1.
Without these two components, we would not have achieved a thing.
"In the negotiations we sought to achieve four goals.
The first goal was to continue the nuclear capabilities, the nuclear
technology, and even the nuclear activity within Iran. The second goal was to
lift the mistaken, oppressive, and inhumane sanctions. The third goal was to
remove all the UN Security Council Resolutions that we view as illegal. The
fourth goal was to remove the Iranian nuclear dossier from Chapter VII of the
UN Charter and from the Security Council in general. In today's agreement, in
the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, all four goals have been achieved.
"At the beginning of negotiations, the other side used
to tell us that during the period of restrictions – which today is set at eight
years – Iran would be able to have only 100 centrifuges. After many
deliberations, they have reached the figure of 1,000 centrifuges. Following
much opposition on our part, they said: '4,000 centrifuges, and that's final.'
Today, the agreement specifies that Iran will retain over 6,000 centrifuges, of
which 5,000 will be at Natanz and over 1,000 at Fordo. All the centrifuges at
Natanz will continue to enrich [uranium].
"They said: 'The period of your restrictions will be
20 years, in addition to 25 years.' Later they said: '20 years and 10 years.'
Then they said: 'Our last word is 20 years, and we will not capitulate any
further.' In the final days of the negotiations, these 20 years shrank to eight
years.
"On the issue of research and development, they used
to say that Iran would be allowed only [first-generation] IR-1 [centrifuges].
This was ridiculous and unrealistic. Research and development under such
conditions is meaningless. Then they said: 'IR-2 at most.' Eventually they
said: 'IR-8 is impossible.' What Iran sought was IR-6 and IR-8 centrifuges. We
wanted an agreement in which we would begin, on the very day of its
implementations, to inject UF-6 gas into [advanced] IR-8 centrifuges. That is
exactly the agreement that we achieved today.
"On the issue of Arak, they used to say: 'The reactor
can remain, but not as a heavy water facility. This is an absolute red line for
us.' Today, according to the terms agreed upon, the joint agreement explicitly
mentions the Arak heavy water reactor. This reactor will be completed with the
same heavy water nature, and with the characteristics specified in the
agreement.
"On the issue of Fordo, they used to say: 'It is hard
to pronounce the name Fordo, even harder to hear it, so you will not say it and
we will not hear it.' Then they said: 'At Fordo there should not be a single
centrifuge, and it will be a center for isotope research.' After months of
bargaining they said: 'Only one cascade of 164 centrifuges will remain at
Fordo.' Let me say, in a nutshell, that today, over 1,000 centrifuges will be
installed at Fordo, and that part of Fordo will be used for research and
development of stable isotopes.
"On the issue of sanctions they used to say: 'The
lifting of all the sanctions all at once – never. As for the gradual lifting of
the sanctions, first you need to gain our trust over the course of months, and
even then, the sanctions will be gradually frozen, not lifted. Do not use the
term "lift the sanctions." We will freeze them.'
[They further said]:
'In the years to come, if the IAEA issues a positive report and you gain our
trust, the sanctions will be gradually lifted.' Today I declare before the
honorable Iranian nation that according to the agreement, on the day of its
implementation, all the sanctions – even the embargo on weapons, missiles, and
[dual-use technology] proliferation – will be lifted, as is stated in a
[Security Council] resolution. All the financial sanctions, all the banking
sanctions, and all the sanctions pertaining to insurance, transportation,
petrochemical [industries], and precious metals, and all the economic sanctions
will be completely lifted, and not frozen. Even the arms embargo will be
stopped. There will be a kind of restriction [on arms] for five years, after
which it will be lifted. With regard to proliferation [of dual-use technology],
a committee will examine goods with a dual use. With regard to the revocation
of the UN [Security Council] resolutions, they used to say: 'You have not
implemented any resolution, so how can we revoke the resolution? At the very
least implement it for six months.'
"According to today's agreement, which will be
approved in the coming days by the UN Security Council, all six previous
resolutions [against Iran] will be revoked. With regard to the permanent
removal of the Iranian nuclear dossier from the Security Council, they used to
say: 'The IAEA must report for 20 years,' then 'for 15 years.' In today's
[agreement], regardless of the IAEA, after 10 years of implementation of the
agreement, the nuclear dossier will be completely removed from the Security
Council.
"This agreement is, of course, reciprocal.
"Today, [we are talking about] the implementation of a
reciprocal agreement. If they adhere to this agreement, we will too. Throughout
history, the Iranian nation has always stood behind the treaties to which it
committed itself. We will stand firmly behind the current treaty, provided the
other side also strictly adheres to it.
"This is the most important day in the past 12 years.
Historically, this is the day on which all the large countries and the
superpowers in the world have officially recognized Iran's nuclear activities.
"If some of the P5+1 countries want to declare today,
'We have prevented Iran from producing a nuclear bomb,' the whole world knows
full well that according to the fatwa of [Iranian Supreme Leader Ali] Khamenei,
producing a nuclear bomb is a mistaken, inhuman, and forbidden endeavor. In the
view of our scientists, Iran has never and will never aspire to produce a
nuclear bomb, whether or not there is an agreement and whether or not it is
implemented. Therefore, if they want to talk about an achievement, they should
talk about the real achievement – the new atmosphere that has been created
today in the region, which will lead to expansion of regional and global
cooperation."
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