He said that while Iran “has never had the intention of producing a nuclear weapon, and therefore sanctions and resolutions against Iran were unjust and illegal”, the accord is a “careful and clear diplomatic effort” and a “brilliant example of victory over war“.
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“It can serve as a basis for foundational change in the region“, Rouhani said, later adding that “this opportunity can be seized in order to look toward the future”.
The topic dominated Mr Cameron’s 45-minute meeting with Iranian president Hassan Rouhani and was addressed by both Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin when they spoke to delegates.
Rouhani is leaving New York later Monday, a day earlier than scheduled, due to the stampede during the Muslim hajj in Mecca that caused the deaths of more than 700 people last week.
The Iranian president in his United Nations speech in New York on Monday deplored the incident, and called on the Riyadh government to take responsibility for the tragedy and provide an explanation. “We defend the rule of the majority that respects the rights of minorities”, Rouhani said, as he also defended Syria’s right to national sovereignty, a critique of worldwide intervention in the country.
The statement came as the Iranian president was speaking at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly, which opened here on Monday morning.
A key factor in the Iran nuclear deal was the willingness to find a middle ground that benefited all sides at the bargaining table, Rouhani said.
“There can not be a return to the prewar status quo”, Obama told the General Assembly.
Mr Cameron said he hoped to bolster regional support for a political settlement in Syria.
“Assad can’t be part of Syria’s future”.
Abdullah Abdullah, for his part, described the current situation in Afghanistan and appreciated the Islamic Republic of Iran for its support of their people and government particularly during the reconstruction period.
The flow of refugees fleeing Syria and other conflict regions is another hot topic at the United Nations meeting, and Kurz said there is increasing EU agreement on creating a joint mechanism to enforce controls on the European Union’s external borders.
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“Realism dictates that compromise will be required to end the fighting and ultimately stamp out Isil, but realism also requires a managed transition away from Assad and to a new leader”.
