On November 24, President Hassan Rouhani assured Iranians that diplomacy “will lead to a deal, sooner or later” following the decision by Iran and the world's six major powers to extend talks by seven months. In a televised speech, Rouhani also reaffirmed Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear program and the need for sanctions relief to be part of a final agreement. “There is no doubt that sanctions will be lifted,” Rouhani claimed. “The question is timing.” The following are excerpts from his remarks.
“The duration of the negotiations needs to be extended, and more dialogue needs to be held, which is a great achievement in the midway of the path that the Iranian nation began paving on June 14, 2013.”
“It is true that we have still not achieved a final comprehensive agreement in these negotiations, but I can say that in order to achieve a final agreement we have taken steps forward and the conditions today differ with those that prevailed three or six months ago.”
“The logics of the two sides have approached each other very closely, and many of the gaps have been filled, but there are still steps to be taken.”
“Negotiations will lead to a deal, sooner or later.”
Our #nuclear negotiation team has worked tirelessly around the clock and positive steps have indeed been taken. #IranTalksVienna
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) November 24, 2014
"I am certain that we will reach the final accord, if not today, then tomorrow."
“We have had some agreements behind the scenes, but putting those on paper, we are still not there yet.”
“Reaching a written and final agreement needs time.”
"We not only keep to the Geneva agreement but use the Geneva agreement for coming to a final accord."
“Iran’s logic is one of negotiations and dialog; and nuclear talks will be continued with seriousness until a final agreement is struck.”
Most important achievement of #IranTalksVienna:common understanding that negotiations are the only way to a final deal,not exerting pressure
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) November 24, 2014
“We have neither compromised over Iran’s nuclear rights, nor will ever do so, and there is no doubt that the Iranian nuclear technology will remain functioning.”
“At present, no one in the world has any doubt that Iran must have nuclear technology, including enrichment on its soil.”
Pres @HassanRouhani:The centrifuges will never cease rotating, while the wheels of people’s lives will rotate more smoothly #IranTalksVienna
— Meet Iran (@MeetIran) November 24, 2014 “We have gained a bigger success than what has been gained in these negotiations, and that great success is that today the situation is not similar with status during the previous years. Today we enjoy a status that no one in the world argues that in order to urge Iran to yield to the demands of Group 5+1 the sanctions need to be intensified.”
“Today, the opposite negotiating sides have reached the conclusion that pressure and sanctions on Iran will not bear fruit.”
“There is no doubt that sanctions will be lifted. The question is timing.”
“We consider the sanctions to be tyrannical and have to lift them step by step.”
“We will never give up our rights.” [referring to the enrichment process]
Translations from the Associated Press, Sky News, The Islamic Republic News Agency, Press TV, Today’s Zaman, Reuters