Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that he would not let state secrets be put in danger due to world powers' assertion of nuclear intrusive inspections amid nuclear negotiations.
"Iran will absolutely not allow its national secrets to fall into the hands of foreigners through the Additional Protocol or any other means," Rouhani said in a news conference. The president refers to the provision of the International Atomic Energy Agency on more invasive inspection in the Islamic Republic, according to Reuters.
Iran is currently trying to forge a deal with the U.S., France, Russia, Britain, Germany and China, commonly known as the P5+1, but it is firm on its decision not to allow military inspections and interview with its nuclear scientists as part of the talks.
"The country will never allow its state secrets to be accessed by foreigners under the pretext of international treaties or conventions," Rouhani said, MSNBC reported.
Rouhani also announced that talks on Iran's nuclear program are likely to reach a deal ahead of its deadline on June 30, but this would be delayed if world powers would bring new issues into the negotiation.
"If the other side sticks to the framework that has been established and does not bring new issues into play, I believe it can be solved and we can reach an agreement," he said. "But if they want to take the path of brinkmanship, the negotiations could take longer."
Rouhani made the statement in the second year of his election. His campaign two years ago centered on his promise that he would work hard to end Iran's isolation from the rest of the world and to lift the economic sanctions imposed by the international community, The Guardian reported.
The Iranian president also addressed the issue on Jason Rezaian, the Washington Post reporter who has been detained in the Islamic Republic for nearly one year due to charges of espionage and spreading propaganda against the republic.
Although Iran does not recognize dual citizenship, Rouhani said he is following the case of the reporter as the former is committed to carrying out the legal rights of all Iranians and even the citizens of other countries living in Iran, and Rezaian's case is not an exception.
The Washington Post, rights groups, and U.S. authorities have been demanding that the reporter be freed.
