Iranian president: Iran to continue negotiations ‘with good will’

TEHRAN,Sept.1(MNA) – Iran’s president said Iran will continue nuclear negotiations with good will, provided Powers continue talks to build confidence. Hassan Rouhani who was receiving Finnish FM Erkki Tuomioja on Sunday, said that Iran sought a win-win situation in nuclear negotiations, and that unilateral sanctions against Iran would damage the EU first and foremost, the presidential official website reported. “Iran has been working hard in a constructive, serious, and difficult, and we will continue talks until a deal is reached with Powers, and if Powers avoid mounting pressure so that Iran fails to attain knowledge and technology, the path for an agreement will remain open still,” Rouhani said. President praised success of Iran negotiating team in striking Geneva Joint Plan of Action and the extension of the deal. “Hurdles in Iran’s way to science and research in nuclear technology, and we will not negotiate our missile and defense capabilities,” he told Finnish foreign minister. Rouhani warned the EU that “unilateral sanctions which violate international rules would damage both Iran and EU,” and that “the days when sanctions were a stick to mount pressure to sovereign countries has passed.” He dismissed the new sanction measures planned by the US after a relatively ‘good understanding with Powers’ as ‘inaccurate.’ Rouhani had a positive evaluation of Iran-Finland relations and believed that they should improve the current level of relations in attempt to find ‘opportunities to cooperate in environment, economy, culture, and technology sectors.’ Finnish FM said that Iran and the EU experienced ‘tough and difficult’ relations in the current stage of international politics, and that “I agree with the president that a final result should be a win for both sides,” he added. He pointed to operating 4 active nuclear power plants and construction of a 5th power plant in his country and noted that such a country actually using nuclear energy could not impede other countries’ using the same energy source. Tuomioja also voiced concerns over ISIL atrocities in Iraq and believed that it was a threat for global security and called for multilateral cooperation to address the issue.