President: Neighbors’ Co-op Essential To Deal With Sanctions

Tehran, Sept 30, IRNA - President Hassan Rouhani in an interview with Russia TV Channel 2 broadcast on Tuesday said that neighbors' cooperation is essential to deal with sanctions. He noted that blind sanctions against countries must break off. Sanction is a wrong tool and if countries do not stand against it, it is regularly applied against any country, President added. Responding to a question on sanctions imposed by Washington against Moscow, he declared Iran's support for Russia and noted that embargos will not benefit anyone. President Rouhani stressed the need for partnership and coordination between the neighbors to face sanctions. President said that the best option in energy and gas sectors is cooperation, interaction and healthy competition among gas exporting countries to meet the interests of all exporters. He referred to Iran's nuclear negotiations with G5+1 in New York and added that "the steps however short have been taken forward, and we must strive to get a comprehensive agreement in the future." Iran will never stop its peaceful nuclear activities, which have always been under direct supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the President underlined. He said if G5+1 shows real determination, a final nuclear agreement between Tehran and the six powers will be possible. Iran is firmly determined to reach an agreement with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain, and the United States – plus Germany by the November deadline and if the opposite side is committed firmly, we can come to an agreement, said President Rouhani. He urged the negotiating partners to show more resolve, addressing particularly the United States which, he said, has been dragging its feet more than others even though all parties understand the necessity for reaching an agreement as soon as possible./end