Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the United Nations today that the Islamic Republic wants to lead an international coalition to go after terrorism.
The leader of the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of terrorism said the nuclear deal “is not the final objective but a development which can and should be the basis of further achievements to come.”
“Considering the fact that this deal has created an objective basis and set an appropriate model, it can serve as a basis for foundational change in the region. Our policy is to continue our peace-seeking efforts in the region based on the same win-win principle and act in a way that would lead to all in the region and the world benefiting from these new conditions,” Rouhani said.
The Iranian president stressed that “the gravest and most important threat to the world today is for terrorist organizations to become terrorist states.”
“We propose that the fight against terrorism be incorporated into a binding international document, and no country be allowed to use terrorism for the purpose of intervention in the affairs of another country,” he said.
“We are prepared to assist in the eradication of terrorism, and in paving the way for democracy and ensuring that arms do not dictate the course of events in the region. As we aided the establishment of democracy in Iraq and Afghanistan, we are prepared to help bring about democracy in Syria as well as Yemen. We support the consolidation of power through the votes of people rather than with arms. We defend the rule of the majority that respects the rights of minorities.”
Thus, Rouhani said, “through the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, we were not solely seeking a nuclear deal, we want to suggest a new and constructive way to re-create the international order, an order based on mutual respect, non-intervention in the internal affairs of others as well as on sustained cooperation and co-existence between the members of the United Nations.”
“…We may now devise a plan to resolve the problems of a shattered Middle East under the claws of brutality and savagery.”
Iran’s proposal for “a joint comprehensive plan of action to create a united front against extremism and violence… must create a collective and global movement to tackle regional problems in a serious manner through dialogue, prevent the slaughter of innocent people and the bombardment of civilians, as well as the promotion of violence and killing of other human beings, provide for the stability in cooperation with established central governments to maintain stability and once stability is established, build diplomacy and democratic governance in the Middle East region.”
Rouhani blamed terrorism on U.S. intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq and “unwarranted support for the inhumane actions of the Zionist regime against the oppressed nation of Palestine,” without which “today the terrorists would not have an excuse for the justification of the crimes.”
“It is urgent for the United States government, instead of explaining the truth of the region and throwing about baseless accusations and pursuing other dangerous policies in defense of its regional allies who only cultivate deceits of division and extremism, this must be brought to an end and its actions must be made compatible with the realities of the region,” he said.
Rouhani also said he expects other countries to “not to allow the Zionist regime to remain the only impediment in the way of realizing this important initiative” — the nuclear deal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the General Assembly on Thursday.
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