Iran blames West for Middle East 'strategic blunders'
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has kicked off day two of
the United Nations General Assembly with a promise to carry out nuclear talks
"in good faith" with Western powers - which he blamed for
"blunders" in the Middle East, reports DW.
In a speech to the UN General Assembly in New
York on Thursday, Rouhani said a deal on Iran 's
contested nuclear program was possible before November's deadline. Tehran and world powers
have been trying for almost a year to negotiate a permanent solution to the
program, after extending their deadline this July.
He called on the West to be "flexible," saying
"We are determined to continue negotiations with our
interlocutors in earnest and good faith, based on mutual respect and
confidence. Any delay in arriving at a final agreement only raises the
costs," Rouhani said.
He also spoke about the US-led coalition against jihadists
in Iraq and Syria , blaming
the West for "strategic blunders" that created terror havens.
"The strategic blunders of the West in the Middle East,
Central Asia and the Caucasus have turned
these parts of the world into a haven for terrorists and extremists," said
Rouhani.
He blamed the rise of violent extremism on "certain
states" and "intelligence agencies." While this was one danger,
Rouhani said, it created another - the "fertile ground for further
intervention of foreign forces in our region."
"Certain intelligence agencies have put blades in the
hand of madmen, who now spare no one. The right solution to this quandry comes
from within the region and a regionally provided solution with international
support, and not from outside the region," Rouhani said.
The Iranian president's speech comes a day after he held
historic talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron. London
severed diplomatic ties with Iran
after activists stormed its embassy in Tehran
in late 2011.
Late last month, Iran missed a deadline to answer
questions about its nuclear program. Tehran
was supposed to answer questions on several suspicious research programs and
provide information on high explosives testing and computer simulation work
until August 25.
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