Rouhani: Domestic Politics Shouldn't Influence Nuclear Talks
Domestic politics should not be allowed to influence nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday, alluding to the U.S. Republican party's recent Senate victory.
"If one of the member countries of the P5+1 has a domestic problem or won or lost an election, it has nothing to do with us and each country must resolve its own problems," Rouhani said in televised remarks.
"It doesn't make sense... for this problem to appear at the level of negotiations."
The statement came after the end Tuesday of three days of nuclear talks in Oman between Iran and the P5+1 – U.N. Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.
There was no reported progress, but Russia's chief negotiator, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov, said he was still "reasonably optimistic".
The two sides have until November 24 to strike a comprehensive agreement aimed at easing Western suspicions over Tehran's nuclear intentions as well as damaging sanctions on the Iranian economy.
Domestic issues were a factor at this week's talks in Oman, given the victory in midterm elections of the U.S. Republican party, whose members have consistently bridled at the White House's negotiations with Iran.
Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are also under fire from Iranian lawmakers skeptical of an interim deal and who have demanded any final agreement be ratified by parliament.
U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday a "big gap" remained on how the West can have "verifiable, lock-tight assurances" that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.
Rouhani said the situation was unjust.
"It is not fair that one country that respects all international conventions is facing a power that says 'I have doubts'," Rouhani said Wednesday, in reference to Iran being a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
"Why should our country respond to these suspicions?" he asked.
Source: Agence France Presse
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