Off the wire
• China Voice: Qualcomm fine augurs fairer market in China  • Xinhua Insight: Walking in the footsteps of maritime silk road pioneers  • Syrian army retakes 3 towns in southern region amid ongoing offensive  • Foreign exchange rates in Hong Kong  • Urgent: Four-way talks on Ukraine expected to be held at 05:00 p.m.local time  • Xi's special envoy to attend Croatia's presidential inauguration  • Foreign exchange rates in India  • Maldives former defense minister accused of plotting coup  • NBA results  • NBA standings  
You are here: 　 Home

1st LD: Iran's Rouhani urges West to lift "inhuman sanctions"

Xinhua, February 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The West should lift "inhuman and illegal sanctions" against Iran as they are trying to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal with Tehran, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday.

While addressing a large crowd celebrating the 36th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Tehran's Azadi square, he advised the West "to seize the proper opportunity" in order to reach the agreement.

"Those claiming Iran came to the negotiation table because of the sanctions are lying," Rouhani said, adding that "Iran is at the negotiation table to help enact worldwide peace and security."

To this end, the West should lift "inhumane and illegal sanctions" against Iran as they try to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal with Tehran, Rouhani said.

As the country kicks off its nationwide celebrations marking the anniversary, hundreds of thousands of people in Iran's major cities swarmed to the streets, carrying flags, banners and images of the late founder of the Islamic republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini, and his successor, incumbent Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In capital Tehran, people were also waving banners with anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans, shouting support of Iran's right to peaceful use of nuclear power.

The president said when the sanctions are lifted, it will benefit both Iran and the P5+1 group, which comprises of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

Iran is not intimidated by pressure and sanctions, and has achieved critical growth under the West's pressures, he said, adding that if western sanctions continue, consensus in dealing with Iran's nuclear issue will disband.

"What we seek during the nuclear talks is achievement of common grounds to provide a win-win outcome for both sides (Iran and world powers)," stressed the Iranian president.

"Iran will resume with transparency its nuclear activities within the framework of international regulations, and the other party should lift the inhumane and illegal sanctions," he maintained. Endit