Rouhani says nuclear deal reshaped Iran's image in the world

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said here Thursday that the deal clinched in 2015 on the country's nuclear program has reshaped Tehran's image in the world.

"The deal proved to the world's public opinion that the charges against Iran about building a nuclear weapon had been baseless," Rouhani told a ceremony at Tehran's Azadi (Liberty) Square marking the 37th anniversary of the victory of Islamic revolution.

"Today, the whole world knows that the hype of the Zionists (of Israel) and the global arrogance against Iran (over its nuclear program) had been a lie," Rouhani said, adding that by the deal, "we could defeat the Iranophebia project" and to show that the Iranians are a peace-seeker nation and are the friends of the global and regional countries.

The Iranian president said the global atmosphere now favors Iran's engagement and cooperation, and that the Islamic republic should seize this opportunity to build the country.

Rouhani referred to the recent visits of Russia and China's presidents to Iran, and also touched on his recent tour to European countries of Italy and France, saying that in all of the events important contracts were signed with the parties, which is an embodiment of Iran's importance to the world.

On Thursday, people in the Iranian cities swarmed to the streets carrying images of the late founder of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and his successor, incumbent leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In the capital Tehran, people carried flags and banners in support of the Islamic establishment and chanted anti-U.S., anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian slogans.

The 1979 revolution toppled the U.S.-backed regime of Shah and brought the country under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini, an event seen as a turning point in Iran's history. Endit