UNITED NATIONS — Iran’s new president said Wednesday his country is ready to negotiate and has “nothing to hide” as world powers prepare to revive stalled talks over Iran’s disputed nuclear activities.
Iran has agreed to meet with six world powers Thursday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly to try to restart nuclear negotiations that stalled in April. The West suspects Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon, something Iran has repeatedly denied.
“If there is political will on the other side, which we think there is, we are ready to talk,” President Hasan Rouhani told editors in New York. “We believe the nuclear issue will be solved by negotiation.”
But Rouhani said Iran must be careful in starting a new relationship with the U.S. after three decades of frozen ties, adding that his first goal is to reduce the distrust. He noted that there are radical voices in America and radical voices in Iran who would not like to see that happen, but said that the voices of moderation need to be strengthened and supported.
“The more two countries are apart, the more suspicions, fears and miscalculations creep in,” Rouhani said.
His remarks, made at a meeting of senior editors and news anchors, were initially supposed to be off the record. But, in response to requests from journalists, Rouhani agreed that some of his remarks could be quoted.
Hours later in Washington, the White House said Obama remains open to the possibility of an informal encounter with Rouhani at a future date.
