President Renews Iran's Steadfast Opposition to Nuclear Arms

Addressing a huge crowd of people in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan on Tuesday, Rouhani pointed to the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers, saying that the talks will prove peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program.

"In the course of talks we will show the world that what had been told to Iran in the past was lies and Iran has never been after nuclear weapons and will never do so," Rouhani said.

"But" he underscored "God willing, the country will continue the development of the (nuclear) technology."

He also said the sanctions will be lifted in the next few months with the assistance of the Iranian people and by following the directions of the Supreme Leader and the constitution.

First steps to remove the sanctions have been taken, Rouhani said, adding that Iran’s nuclear rights including uranium enrichment, have been recognized in the agreement between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).

The latest round of nuclear talks between delegations representing Iran and the G5+1 (alternatively known as P5+1 or E3+3), which began in the Austrian capital of Vienna on April 8, came to an end on April 9.

The two sides have on November 24, 2013, clinched an interim six-month deal in the Swiss city of Geneva. The breakthrough deal (the Joint Plan of Action), which has come into effect since January 20, stipulates that over the course of six months, Iran and the six countries will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of the whole sanctions on Iran.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the president emphasized that according to Iran’s constitution, all Iranians are equal and there is no second-class citizen in the country.

Rouhani arrived in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province on Tuesday morning. During his two-day trip, he will also visit other cities of the province.