Addressing a crowd of supporters in West Azarbaijan Province on Friday, the principlist candidate said fossil fuels will soon run out and it is essential for countries like Iran to have complete access to civilian nuclear energy.
The remarks come in the face of allegations made by United States, the Israeli regime and some of their allies accusing Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Tehran has strongly rejected the accusation, arguing that as a committed signatory to NPT and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is entitled to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Velayati also stressed that no regional issue can be resolved in the absence of Iran.
Regarding domestic policy, Velayati said if he is elected president, he will prop up the national economy by promoting production and privatization.
In the forthcoming presidential election on June 14, Velayati will be competing against lawmaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, Expediency Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, President of the Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council Hassan Rohani, former First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and former Telecommunications Minister Mohammad Gharazi.
