Hassan Rouhani: All Countries Must Adhere to Human Rights

The President of Iran, who is visiting France for an official meeting at the head of a high-ranking delegation, expressed gratitude to the French government and people during a joint press conference with his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, on Thursday evening, February 8. Rouhani emphasized that the French people hold a special place among the Iranian people. He stated that the JCPOA could serve as a model for resolving other global issues. Without addressing the human rights situation in Iran, he remarked, 'What matters is that all countries adhere to this issue.' He added, 'The West should not think it is perfect in human rights while other countries lag behind.' Rouhani's comments come as various human rights organizations have repeatedly protested issues such as the death penalty and the violation of women's and minority rights in Iran. Freedom House has recently noted in its annual report on the status of political and civil liberties and freedom of expression worldwide that Iran remains classified as a non-free country. Rouhani also referred to tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, stating, 'We seek to resolve disputes through logic and negotiation.' He emphasized that regional stability is very important for Iran and added, 'We must help the people of Syria make decisions about their country's future in a suitable environment. The unity and cohesion of Iraq is also important for all of us, and we must fight terrorism in Syria and Iraq and support these two nations in their struggle against terrorist groups.' Rouhani stressed, 'Today, the problem in Syria is not this individual or that individual; the main problem is ISIS and those who have armed these groups, bought oil from them, and provided them political support.' Francois Hollande, the President of France, also encouraged French companies to return to the Iranian market and industry, calling for a new era in relations with Tehran. Hollande emphasized that this does not mean there are no disagreements between the two countries, stating, 'It is the duty of both sides to cooperate to resolve these disagreements.' He also mentioned that he discussed everything with his Iranian counterpart, including human rights and freedom, as it is considered one of France's principles. Rouhani and his accompanying delegation traveled to France on Wednesday for an official visit. During this trip, 20 documents outlining the roadmap for comprehensive cooperation were signed between the two countries. According to IRNA news agency, the document 'Roadmap for Strengthening Bilateral Relations between Iran and France' was the first document signed by the foreign ministers of Iran and France, while the finance cooperation memorandum was signed by the economy ministers, and the industrial and economic memorandum was signed by the industry ministers of both countries. Cooperation agreements in the fields of communications, environment and climate, tourism, health, and pharmaceuticals were also signed by the ministers of the two countries.