US Counts the Cost – Rouhani: Sanctions against Iran More Harmful to West

President Rouhani: Sanctions against Iran More Harmful to West
10 November, 2013 – FARS

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani dismissed media claims that Tehran has sat to the negotiating table due to the pressures exerted on the country by the western sanctions, saying that the embargos harmed their advocates more than the Iranian nation.

“The sanctions not only harm the Iranian nation but also damage their imposers,” Rouhani said, addressing the parliament in Tehran on Sunday.

Stressing that Iran believes the sanctions are illegal and inefficient, he said, “We have not sat to the negotiating table under the pressure of sanctions.”

“Iran sat to the negotiating table from 2001 to 2003 while there was no sanctions at that time,” he reminded.

Rouhani described the negotiations as beneficial to both sides, and said, “The region, the world and the negotiating sides with Iran will benefit from the negotiations and success in such negotiations means stability in the world and paving the way for interaction among Iran, the region and the world.”

Noting that those participating in the negotiations have reached this conclusion that sanctions do not present the solution, he said, “We will continue this way and the least benefit of it, as said by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution (Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei), is that we don’t sustain a harm from it and I also add that the least benefit of these negotiations is that Iran’s role in the region and the world will be clear and the public opinion will believe that Iran is not stubborn and, as it has said, is not after the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs).”

His remarks were uttered after Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in similar remarks earlier this month voiced pessimism over the talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, France, Britain and China plus Germany), and said, “I am not optimistic about the current negotiations because it is not clear if they will yield the results that the (Iranian) nation expects; yet, we believe that there is no problem with (doing) this experience provided that the nation will be vigilant and be aware of what is happening.”

He also advised the Iranian officials participating in the talks with the world powers to keep vigilant, and said, “On one hand, they (the western powers) smile and voice interest in negotiation and on the other hand, they immediately say that all options are on the table. Now it is not clear what a damn thing they could do.”

Iran and the world powers ended a fresh round of talks in Geneva early Sunday morning and they agree to meet again in the same city on November 20. …source