Iranian presidential candidate and former chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani slammed a state television anchor for perpetuating “lies” after he was accused during a live interview of halting the progress of the country’s nuclear program.
“In essence everything was suspended,” said the TV interviewer facing Rohani in a program aired late yesterday as part of the candidate’s allotted campaigning slot. “How much is your government ready to accept criticism?”

“What you said is a lie and you know it’s a lie,” responded Rohani, who oversaw negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program with world powers until 2005. “You are saying that we suspended the nuclear program? We were the ones who came to master the nuclear technology.”

In 2003, Iran implemented an Additional Protocol allowing International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors wider access and agreed to suspend enrichment activities during negotiations with the European Union.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who started the first of his two terms in 2005, has touted the nuclear program as a question of national pride and independence. Ahmadinejad has portrayed the past administration’s decisions on the issue as capitulations in the face of Western pressure.

Rohani said it was during his time as a nuclear negotiator, under the presidency of Mohammad Khatami, that “necessary opportunities” were created to ensure technical progress.

“The day I handed over the nuclear file, we had 1,700 or so centrifuges ready,” Rohani said. “The day I received the nuclear file we had 150.”

Iran’s economy is being squeezed by sanctions imposed by the United Nations, U.S. and European Union, all during Ahmadinejad’s presidency. The U.S. and its allies say Iran’s nuclear program may conceal an atomic weapons development plan.

Iran is holding a presidential election on June 14 and Rohani is one of eight candidates participating in the contest. Ahmadinejad is not eligible to run for a third consecutive time.

By Press TV

 

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