“Is this to the benefit of the American economy, the American people, the world at large?” the Iranian president said, referring to the illegal sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic.
Rouhani, who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, made the remarks in an interview with The Washington Post on Wednesday.
He also said Tehran has lived up to all its commitments under a deal dubbed the Joint Plan of Action -- signed by Iran and six world powers last November -- as a trust-building measure.
The Iranian president further highlighted the importance of achieving a final and comprehensive agreement over Iran's nuclear program, underscoring that the Islamic Republic must be able to “maintain a peaceful nuclear program”.
Under no circumstances will Iran try to build, stockpile or use any kind of nuclear weapons, Rouhani emphasized, saying that Iran’s nuclear energy program is geared to energy production and medical research.
He said the P5+1 group of world powers must show goodwill and take advantage of the historic and unique opportunity which has been created to end differences on Iran's nuclear energy program.
A final and comprehensive deal between Tehran and the six world powers could help build the confidence needed regarding the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program while recognizing Iran’s inalienable right to maintain such a program, Rouhani noted.
Iran and the P5+1 group of countries – Russia, China, the United States, Britain, and France plus Germany – are currently in talks to work out a final accord that would end the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.
The two sides signed an interim deal in Geneva, Switzerland, last November. The agreement took effect on January 20 and expired six months later. In July, they agreed to extend the negotiations until November 24 amid differences over a number of key issues.
