“In our foreign policy we do not seek adventurism and we are not after a military expedition, but we will defend our interests,” the secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council said in a speech to his supporters as he kicked off his campaign in Tehran’s Park Laleh on Thursday.
Commenting on Iran’s nuclear issue, Rezaei said that the Iranians as a logical and peaceful nation and expect the international community to recognize their right to a peaceful nuclear program.
“I announce here that we are a logical nation we have never sought war. The Iranian nation from the beginning of the Revolution until now has never attacked another country and has never sought expansionism,” he said.
“But we expect the American, Europeans and … the international community to not overlook the Iranian nation’s right. The Iranian nation is not one that can be ignored in the region… therefore it would be better for them to tread a peaceful and logical path and recognize the Iranian nation’s right…,” Rezaei added.
The candidate noted that the Iranian nation has to continue its resistance against imperialist powers, while making economic and cultural advancements.
“We will continue resistance… and continue [safeguarding] revolutionary values, but this is not enough we must on the one hand have logical resistance… and on the other hand have cultural and economic progress. If there is only resistance and no cultural and economic advancements our job is unfinished … and if some people think that the world will let us make cultural and economic progress and our [political approaches] will be left alone they are wrong. We should avoid going to extremes,” Rezaei said.
The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Using the unfounded allegation as pretext, the US and the EU have imposed illegal unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election.
