Rohani’s Remarks Widely Covered By Pakistani Media

Islamabad, Sept 21, IRNA – Pakistani media on Friday gave wide coverage to the remarks of Iranian President Hassan Rohani that said Iran will never seek nuclear weapons. Daily ‘Dawn’ reported that Iran’s newly elected President has said that Tehran will never seek nuclear weapons. “Under no circumstances would we seek any weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, nor will we ever,” Rohani told NBC News days before he travels to New York for the UN General Assembly. “We have never pursued or sought a nuclear bomb, and we are not going to do so,” the daily quoted him as saying. “Daily Times’ reported that President Rohani in a television interview has said his country is not seeking war and that Iran wants the Middle East to have “rule by the will of the people.” His comments came in an interview with NBC News that aired just days before he travels to New York for an appearance at the United Nations, it added. In an earlier part of the interview Rohani said Iran would never develop nuclear weapons and that he had ‘complete authority’ to negotiate a nuclear deal with the United States and other Western powers, the daily stated. Daily ‘The Nation’ reported that President Rohani has said in an interview with a US television network that his country would never seek nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly announced “Under no circumstances would we seek any weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, nor will we,” said Rohani, who took office on Aug. 4, in the interview with Ann Curry of NBC News. The daily added that Rohani reiterated Iran’s longstanding position that its uranium enrichment and related programs are for peaceful purposes. Daily ‘The News’ reported that Irans President described Zionist Regime as an occupier who has brought instability to the Middle East but said the Islamic Republic did not seek war with any country. In an exclusive interview with US broadcaster NBC, Rohani said, We believe in the ballot box. We do not seek war with any country. We seek peace and friendship among the nations of the region, the daily noted. Another daily ‘Business Recorder’ reported that President Rohani in an interview with western media has said that the Zionist regime is an occupier and usurper government that does injustice to the people of the region and has brought instability to the region with its warmongering policies. We have clearly said we are not in pursuit of nuclear weapons and will not be, the daily quoted Rohani. We want the people, in their private lives, to be completely free, he added. Urdu newspapers, Express and Jang also reported remarks of the Iranian President./end