“Today is the day when a nation appreciates the strong men of politics, defense, military, and discipline who endeavored for days and nights to secure the nation’s might,” President Rouhani said.
He made the remarks in an address to a Monday ceremony held in the Iranian capital to commemorate the families of the Iranian nuclear scientists that have been martyred and the officials and staff who had a role in the long process of negotiations that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
An integrated, united, and proud nation is always honored. “Wherever we stayed together, we won,” President Rouhani said.
He referred to the ceremony as being aimed at thanking the efforts of the entire nation, saying that the JCPOA neither belongs to the current administration, nor to a particular party, but it is a national honor.
The real honor in the nuclear negotiations and the JCPOA belongs to the Iranian nation, he noted, adding, “Today is the day to appreciate the great nation of Iran, who stood up in all fields, and never surrendered to or feared of superpowers.”
President Rouhani praised the families of martyred nuclear scientists, saying that Iranian peaceful nuclear energy scientists adopted the dangerous path in full awareness and courageously.
“There is no doubt that even if tens of Iranians were martyred in this path, the country’s nuclear scientists would never leave the path of people’s honor and pride,” he noted.
“When all the enemies (of Iran) joined hands to humiliate the nation in an imposed war, the Iranian nation showed an exemplary resistance and made the enemy humiliated, marking a great victory,” Rouhani said.
President Rouhani: Even if tens of Iranians were martyred in this path, the country’s nuclear scientists would never leave the path of people’s honor and pride.
He went on to say that the termination of anti-Iran nuclear-related resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was one of the preliminary conditions he set for Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in the early days of negotiations, saying that the goal was achieved through the nation’s resistance although it seemed to be very difficult.
The Iranian president listed a number of factors that helped the administration conclude the nuclear talks, finalize the deal, and implement it in mid-January.
Rouhani first thanked God’s mercy, and then praised the role of the Iranian nation’s unity and solidarity, stressing that an integrated, united, and proud nation is always honored.
The world has well understood the Leader’s position and status, and knows what a position fatwa holds in an Islamic community, and is well aware that if Iran’s Leader says something, the world should trust his word and promise, President Rouhani said.
“Wherever we stayed together, we won,” he noted.
President Rouhani further described the Leader of the Islamic Revolution as the basis for the Iranian nation’s unity and integrity, saying that aside from God’s mercy and people’s resistance, the Leader’s guidelines were very effective.
“Whenever we asked for meetings and consultations, the Leader accepted and provided the Iranian negotiators with all his valuable experiences and outlined specific frameworks,” Rouhani noted.
Besides these three pillars (God, nation, and the Leader), the expertise and resistance of experienced and hardworking negotiators were keys to the finalization of the nuclear deal, he added.
President Rouhani also appreciated the Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi, noting that besides the path Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his ministry were following, a new group was needed to be formed in parallel, so the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) entered the negotiations with all its technical strength.
The night before the Geneva deal, from early hours in the night until 5 in the morning, we were constantly in contact, but the important point is that we never lost the way, and God did not leave us alone, President Rouhani said.
After Dr. Salehi started his work beside other members of the nuclear negotiating team, new breakthroughs were started to be made in technical and technological fields, he added.
“Later in the negotiation process, we reached a point where the defense minister and the ministry’s experts were required to enter the negotiations, and clear the false charges Zionists had raised against our nation, and settle the PMD (possible military dimension) dispute,” Rouhani said.
Accordingly, Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan bravely entered the field with all his colleagues, the president asserted.
He also referred to other factors including the country’s stable economy and the security and stability of the country during the course of negotiations as other keys to the nuclear deal.
If it was not for the courage of the Iranian army, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Basij (voluntary forces), and other armed forces, we could not have the conditions for good negotiations, the Iranian president said.
“If during the 30-month nuclear negotiations, the administration’s economic department could not control the inflation and turn the minus 6.8 economic growth to positive 3, and restore stability to the market, we certainly could not be successful in the negotiations,” he added.
“Also if the intelligence ministry’s forces, and the Iranian Armed Forces failed to maintain the country’s security, and if our brave commanders did not resist in Iraq and refused to help the Syrian people in Damascus and Allepo, and if it was not for the courage of the Iranian army, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Basij (voluntary forces), and other armed forces, we could not have the conditions for good negotiations,” Rouhani noted.
“Isn’t it an honor to prove the lies Zionists and the US raised against Iran’s nuclear program, and to terminate the cruel resolutions,” the president asked.
He further touched upon the course of nuclear negotiations, which led to the JCPOA implementation. “We passed difficult days and hours. The night before the Geneva deal was as difficult as the decisions made in Operations Karbala 4 and 5 (two of Iran’s military operation during the Iraqi imposed war).”
“From early hours in the night until 5 in the morning, we were constantly in contact, but the important point is that we never lost the way, and God did not leave us alone,” the Iranian president added.
Elsewhere in his remarks, President Rouhani underlined that the government is seeking to renovate the country’s transportation system, especially the air fleet, after the recent implementation of the nuclear deal.
After Dr. Ali Akbar Salehi, the Iranian nuclear chief, started his work beside other members of the nuclear negotiating team, new breakthroughs were started to be made in technical and technological fields, Rouhani noted.
“We will not let the Iranian people get on board of aging aircraft and feel humiliated. We are looking for renovating the air fleet and provide speedy and modern trains for the sake of Iranian nation’s welfare, comfort, and safety,” he added.
“A very great job was done to turn threat into opportunity, and all-out partnership will begin instead of sanctions,” he added.
We will not let the Iranian people get on board of aging aircraft and feel humiliated. We are looking for renovating the air fleet and provide speedy and modern trains for the sake of Iranian nation’s welfare, comfort, and safety, Rouhani asserted.
He also referred to the post-sanctions era, noting that unlike the lies certain people say – that the administration will import [excessive] foreign goods instead of domestic production – the government is looking for investment, new technologies, and partnership for taking over joint markets.
“They should not lie to the Iranian nation, because the government has been honest with people from the first day … and has kept its promises, and will do so from now on, God willing,” he added.
The defense minister and the ministry’s experts were required to enter the negotiations, and clear the false charges Zionists had raised against our nation, and settle the PMD (possible military dimension) dispute, Rouhani said.
“These are still the early results. Let the skeptics and enemies say whatever they want,” Rouhani said.
“Shouldn’t we be honored that the US president, who apparently has the world’s highest economic and military power, yields to a fatwa issued by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, and says that he trusts the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program only due to the historic fatwa of Iran’s Leader,” Rouhani asked.
“This means that the world has well understood the Leader’s position and status, and knows what a position fatwa holds in an Islamic community, and is well aware that if Iran’s Leader says something, the world should trust his word and promise,” he added.
“Isn’t it an honor to prove the lies Zionists and the US raised against Iran’s nuclear program, and to terminate the cruel resolutions,” he asked.
The government is looking for investment, new technologies, and partnership for taking over joint markets, Rouhani noted.
“I bow to the Leader’s guidance and support. On behalf of the Iranian nation, I should appreciate all the people who were involved in the field. I appreciate Grand Ayatollahs, the Judiciary Chief and Parliament Speaker, particularly my brother Dr. [Ali] Larijani, the previous administrations of [Ayatollah Akbar] Hashemi Rafsanjani, [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, and [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the previous negotiators, the elites and academics, and also the entire nation for their prayers,” he concluded his talks.
