Ayatollah Rafsanjani: Iran is not a troublemaker in the region

The chairman of the Expediency Council has said that [a final] nuclear deal with P5+1 is within reach and that Westerners should pay closer attention to the [nuclear] stance of the Supreme Leader whose remarks offer absolute proof of where Iran’s nuclear program is heading.

Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani made the remarks Sunday in a meeting with a host of workers to mark Labor Week. Entekhab, a news website, covered Rafsanjani’s remarks on April 26. The following is a partial translation of what else the top councilor said:

[…]

Recalling the various stages of talks the government has held with P5+1, Rafsanjani said Iran is willing to have interaction with the world and develop cooperation with other countries.

He then disputed the vengeful stance of the Zionist regime and the illogical demands of Israeli officials from P5+1 and said that Iran is not a thorn in the side of [regional] countries; rather, it ensures, beefs up and maintains security in the region.

The chairman of the Expediency Council further said that a nuclear deal between [Iran and world powers] is achievable.

He also recalled Iran’s Islamic and revolutionary policies and the Supreme Leader’s decree banning nuclear weapons and said orders of a source of emulation who is the leader of a civilized society are convincing proof for all of us, urging Westerners to take heed of Iranian officials’ comments which are full of human concerns instead of acting upon the evil-spirited stance of the Zionists.

The Expediency Council chairman also condemned continued Saudi airstrikes against Yemen and said that the new Saudi government has started to walk down the wrong path and has hurt the feelings of Muslims. “The Saudis are sowing the seeds of hostility and feud in the hearts of the Yemeni people.”

Ayatollah Rafsanjani expressed sorrow over the killer quake in Nepal which also wreaked havoc in neighboring India and Pakistan and said that Iran is ready to offer humanitarian aid to the stricken people.

[…]