President-elect Rouhani: US should recognize Iran's nuclear rights

Iran's president-elect Hassan Rouhani said Monday that the United States should "recognize Iran' s nuclear rights" for the Islamic republic to enter negotiations with it. The issue of "Iran's relations with the United States is a complicated and difficult one," said Rouhani, adding "anyway, we will not pursue escalating the tensions." "Any talk with the United States should be based on mutual respect and interests, as well as an equal footing," said Rouhani. Resumption of the negotiations with the United States must have "a number of conditions: the U.S. officials should not interfere in Iran's internal affairs; they should recognize all Iranian rights including the nuclear rights; and the United States should give up unilateral measures against Iran," he added. "Everybody had better know that the next Iranian government will never slacken on Iran's inalienable rights," he said, stressing "In case we notice any goodwill (from the United States), we will take confidence-building steps within the interests of our nation."