Roundup: Iran marks revolution anniversary, urges West to lift sanctions

The West should lift "inhumane and illegal sanctions" against Iran as they try to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal with Tehran, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday as the country celebrated the 36th anniversary of the Islamic revolution.

While addressing a large crowd celebrating the occasion in Tehran's Azadi square, he advised the West "to seize the proper opportunity" in order to reach the agreement.

It is the second time in the past few days that the Iranian leader urged the West to take actions over the nuclear deal.

"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," 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 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.

Rouhani reiterated his support for his negotiating team, saying that they are working to secure the nation's rights and that they also have the support of Iran's Supreme Leader.

"Only Iran's enemies are against the (nuclear) talks, that is, the Zionists (of Israel) who have harnessed their might to oppose the talks," he said.

"We will not allow any power to influence our will. We have safeguarded our independence in negotiations and will continue to do so," he said.

Also on Wednesday, Iran's Foreign Ministry rejected the idea that Western-imposed sanctions forced the country to negotiate over its nuclear issue, official IRNA news agency reported.

"Regarding the peaceful nature of our nuclear program, Iran is in talks to constructively interact (with the world) to put an end to this contrived crisis," Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said.

Sanctions have not forced Iran to enter the talks but the "impracticality of all-out pressures against Iran" and "significant advancements in Iran's peaceful nuclear program" led the United States to the negotiation table, she added.

Afkham was referring to U.S. President Barack Obama's recent remarks, saying that Iran resumed negotiations due to the sanctions.

"Iran has a the political will to arrive at a good arrangement" with the powers, adding that U.S. officials have not given up their "excessive demands" which pose a hurdle in the path towards a comprehensive deal, she added.

On Tuesday, one day before the anniversary, Rouhani said Tehran has taken major steps in nuclear talks to reach a final accord, adding that it was now the West's turn to take actions.

"Although we haven't reached a final agreement yet, Iran is taking nuclear negotiations seriously and there has been positive progress so far," Rouhani said to IRNA.

"We have taken the necessary steps and now it is the other side's turn to seize the opportunity," said the Iranian president in a meeting with India's National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval.

Earlier, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that he consents to "an agreement ..., but no agreement is better than an agreement which undermines the interests of Iran."

Iran and the P5+1 group are committed to agreeing on a general framework of the deal end of March, before heading towards a further self-imposed deadline for a final and comprehensive deal by July this year.

Western powers have imposed diverse sanctions on Iran, accusing Iran of developing atomic weapons under the guise of civilian nuclear activities. Iran called the allegations unfounded, and insisted that its nuclear program is purely peaceful. Endit