(Tehran) – Iran’s New President Hassan Rouhani has said that Iran was ready for “serious” negotiations on its nuclear programme with the major powers “without wasting time”. At his first news conference since assuming office, Rouhani said, “We are the people of interaction and talks, with seriousness and without wasting time, if the other sides are ready. Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme is a national issue… we will not give up the rights of the Iranian people”.
“We will preserve our rights based on the international regulations,” he added, in reference to Iran’s insistence that it has the right to peaceful use of nuclear power as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. “As the president of the Islamic republic, I am announcing that there is political will to solve this issue and also take into consideration the concerns of the other sides,” he said.