Hassan Rouhani Defends Negotiating 'With Foreign Parties': 'A Historic Opportunity'

In defense of negotiations with foreign countries, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, said on Wednesday, October 7th: "Some believe that we should not negotiate with foreign parties, while strengthening relations with foreign countries is a historic opportunity and is very important economically and scientifically." According to Mr. Rouhani, the goal of the negotiations and the JCPOA was to prepare the ground within the country for attracting investment, technology, and establishing trade relations and exporting goods and services. He likened negotiating with foreign parties to conducting a business transaction, stating: "We have various issues with the West that need to be resolved, but when we act with this intention, a new story is created." The Iranian President added during his visit to Qazvin province on Wednesday evening: "If one party in a negotiation seeks to achieve 100% of its demands, then negotiation loses its meaning, and in the world of politics, negotiations are conducted so that both parties can reach an agreement on various issues with different proposals." Mr. Rouhani posed the question, "Is it intended that disagreements with other countries continue until the end of time?" He continued: "No country can achieve a desirable position of progress and development in isolation." According to the Iranian President, the most important action of the government in the past three years has been "creating calm in the social, political, economic, and foreign relations space." According to the presidential website, Hassan Rouhani emphasized: "The government's entire effort has been to remove obstacles to investment and economic prosperity." The President of the eleventh government also pointed out that it seems some are unhappy with the comfort of the people. Rouhani's reference is to the opposition that has been raised by conservative critics of the government since the beginning of the nuclear negotiations and has continued throughout all stages of the talks and after the signing and implementation of the JCPOA. In recent weeks and months, conservative critics, known in Iranian political discourse as "Delvapasan," have questioned the achievements of the signing and implementation of the JCPOA by referring to the remaining limitations on Iran's economic activities internationally, such as financial and banking restrictions. In another part of his speech to investors and economic activists in Qazvin province, Hassan Rouhani said: "When negotiations were taking place, some initially announced that the JCPOA had no effect, but when they felt it was effective, they said why isn’t its impact greater and more complete?" He also emphasized: "It should be noted that the effects of foreign agreements do not appear overnight." The Iranian President called "the main goal of negotiation and agreement to create openings" and added: "During the nuclear agreement, we sought to create suitable conditions so that every day an opening would be achieved, and today, fortunately, we are on this path, and the oppositions that occur are because why the amount of these openings is less." Hassan Rouhani also referred to the issues and problems arising in the fight against money laundering and Iran's cooperation with the FATF, stating: "Iran is at the forefront of the fight against terrorism, and we do not want money laundering in the country, but when we begin actions with this goal, suddenly the FATF is portrayed as a corrupt issue." The Iranian President emphasized: "We are seeking to implement our own laws and intend to combat terrorism financially and banking-wise as well." The FATF, or the Financial Action Task Force, is an intergovernmental organization aimed at combating money laundering and terrorism globally. This group identifies high-risk countries for investment and those involved in money laundering by publishing reports to member countries. Iran has been on this group's blacklist since 2009. Nevertheless, Rouhani's government is trying to create financial transparency and pass new laws to remove Iran from suspicion and pave the way for investment. In recent weeks, with the mention of Iran's cooperation with this organization, conservative critics of the government have opposed it, even referring to it as "Turkmenchay II" in Friday prayer sermons. Ali Tayebnia, the Minister of Economy, went to the parliament this week to explain Iran's cooperation with the FATF to representatives. In this context, Khamenei: The only factor to eliminate military threats is to instill fear and terror in the enemy. The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic again opposed any negotiations with America. Khamenei: The enemy seeks to worsen the economic conditions of the people. Rouhani: No one can unilaterally renegotiate the nuclear agreement. A commander of the IRGC criticized the FATF: This treaty is a lever for influencing us. Changing the battlefield of "proxy forces"; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of opponents and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump: I hope there is no need for further action regarding Iran; they were killing people indiscriminately. The shadow of war over Tehran; "Trump is looking for decisive military options against Iran." Trump emphasized the "stopping of executions in Iran": We do not know what will happen in the future. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump says if the Islamic Republic carries out a terrorist act against him, "it will be wiped off the face of the earth."