It is the turn of others to let go of sanctions

The president’s cultural advisor has said that Iran has made its hard choice long time ago, adding it is now the turn of others to let go of sanctions and learn how to speak with respect.

Hessamoddin Ashena wrote this on his Facebook page where he also offered a review of President Hassan Rouhani’s short trip to Russia on July 9 and a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a joint summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO) and BRICS [which groups Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa]. The following is the translation of Ashena’s note on Facebook as reported by the Iranian Students’ News Agency on July 11:

Dr. Rouhani went to Russia one day ahead of schedule. He had a meeting with his Russian counterpart which lasted longer than expected. [Russian Foreign Minister Sergei] Lavrov was also present in the meeting.

The long meeting [between Presidents Rouhani and Putin] caused a half-an-hour delay in the opening of the joint summit of 14 leaders of SCO and BRICS. All through the meeting, Lavrov was busy texting and receiving messages.

The Iranian president cut his trip short and returned home. He arrived in Tehran after midnight and attended International Quds Day rallies in the morning [on Friday].

On the same day, [President] Putin said that sanctions imposed against Iran should be immediately lifted. In the afternoon, news spread that nuclear talks were moving forward at a fast speed.

It’s now a long time since Iran has made its hard choices. The time has come for others to [make hard choices] scrap sanctions and learn how to speak respectfully.

We are the ones who fast and celebrate the religious Eid [al-Fitr] as well. Happy Eid al-Fitr which will mark the climax of three decades – not simply 30 days – of resistance by the Iranians,  in advance.