Nuclear deal will open ‘new page’ in relations, says Rowhani

Iran’s President Hassan Rowhani said Friday a nuclear deal with world powers would open a “new page” for the country’s international relations and lead to greater cooperation.

In a live televised address, Rowhani also said a final agreement would depend on both sides living up to their commitments.

“If the other side honors its promises, we will honor our promises,” he said a day after Iran and the P5+1 group of nations led by the United States clinched a tentative framework for a nuclear deal.

“The world should know we are not about deceit and hypocrisy,” he said, but noted: “If one day they want to choose a different path, that choice would also be open to us.”

With a June 30 deadline and hard details about the lifting of sanctions standing in the way of a historic accord between Iran and the West, Rowhani sought to shore up support for the possible deal.

“In the framework that we have before us we can see that this government’s approach was effective,” he said, thanking supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his guidance in the nuclear talks.

Arguing that Iran wanted to improve its ties with all countries, Rowhani said: “With the countries that we have tensions or even hostility with, we seek the end of tensions and hostilities.

“And with countries with which we have cold relations we seek better relations.

“New cooperation with the world - both in the nuclear sphere and other areas - will open a new page.”

Calling for “mutual respect, common interests and the reaching of shared goals”, Rowhani said Iran wanted a “balanced agreement” on the nuclear issue.

“Some think we should either fight with the world or give in to the global powers,” he said, calling instead for a “third way” of engaging internationally.

“We can cooperate with the world,” he added.