Rouhani: Iran would not negotiate missile capabilities

TEHRAN, Aug. 18 (MNA) – Iran’s Hassan Rouhani said the IAEA should play more effective role in solving the country’s nuclear issue. Hassan Rouhani who is receiving Yukia Amano, the head of the IAEA, expressed hopes that the Agency “would impress a good name for itself as an impartial entity through recognizing the rights of countries to use peaceful nuclear energy and through making clear baseless allegations mounted against Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.” “In the recent 12 years, the IAEA has regularly investigated Iran’s nuclear facilities and has frequently reported that Iran’s atomic program has not deviated from its peaceful path,” Rouhani asserted. President Rouhani said that the Islamic Republic of Iran had always acted according to international frameworks and regulations in a technical transparent cooperation with the IAEA. “Iran needs modern technologies including nuclear technology in its path to development, and the decision made by the nation and Parliament will be an impetus for government to move toward using this technology in electricity, medicine, agriculture and industry sections,” Rouhani said. Rouhani emphasized that a comprehensive plan would secure a win-win situation for both sides and contributes to peace and security in the world and the region and to Iran’s effective integration to international community. He pointed to the history of Iran’s cooperation with the IAEA since 2002. “I do believe that if there is a strong will seeking accord in nuclear issue, the result would be achieved in course of less than a year, and Iran is resolved to hammer out a deal in shortest possible time,” Rouhani said. President Rouhani urged the IAEA director general to continue negotiations with Iranian officials and regularly report on the ‘progressive nature’ of the cooperation over time. “Iran’s missile capabilities are not negotiable, in any level and under no circumstances,” Rouhani emphasized. Yukia Amano said that Iran’s nuclear issue was highly important for the Agency. “Since assuming the leadership in the IAEA, I have been working to act fairly and to apply the rules equally for all countries,” he added, and that “Iran and the IAEA negotiations have been progressive and completely positive in the recent past year.” Amano expressed hopes that the agreement signed with Iran would provide frameworks for resolving ambiguities in the past and present. “The IAEA appreciates Iran’s transparency in its nuclear issue and will try to use the opportunity to develop a good model of cooperation,” he added. Amano, however, said that he was not satisfied with the length of the negotiations with 5+1 states. Amano who had arrived late Saturday in Tehran, met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) chief Ali akbar Salehi on Sunday.