Rouhani calls talks with powers a source of ‘national honor’

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani has described Iran’s nuclear negotiations with world powers a source of “national honor” and likened the Iranian nuclear negotiators to soldiers who defended Iran when Iraqi forces invaded the country during the Saddam regime in the 1980s.

 

“Our negotiations with world powers are a national honor. Yesterday, our brave commanders stood against the enemy in the battlefield and defended the country; and today, the commanders of diplomacy defend the country’s interests at the negotiations table, which is also a form of jihad,” Rouhani told a ceremony held to commemorate Martyrs’ Day in Tehran on Monday.

 

The president said the victory of the Islamic Revolution also resulted from “altruism”.

 

Iran and the U.S. are scheduled to resume nuclear talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, March 15.

 

Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany) have set a July 1 deadline to reach a final agreement.