FROM EIR DAILY ALERT
Both Trump and Rouhani Open the Door, Slightly, for Dialogue
Sept. 25, 2018 (EIRNS)—In his address to the United Nations General Assembly today, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani built on yesterday’s reaffirmation of the authority and intent of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to invite President Donald Trump to renew dialogue on that basis. After focusing on his disagreements with the Trump Administration, Rouhani said,
“We concur that at the end of the day, there is no better way but dialogue. However, dialogue is two ways. It should be based on equality, justice, and human integrity and honor and coordinated in accordance with the rules and norms of international law.
“The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2231 [on which the JCPOA is based] is not a ‘piece of paper,’ ”
he continued.
“We invite you to return to that Council resolution. We invite you to walk back to the negotiating table you left.... Do not engage in imposing sanctions. Sanctions and extremism are two sides of the same coin. Extremism involves negating the thinking of others and sanctions negates the life and property of people.... Dialogue can resume in this assembly from the same point and by the same person who left the table and walked away from the accord.
“Beginning the dialogue starts with ending threats and unjust sanctions.... Our proposal is clear. Commitment for commitment, violation for violation, threat for threat, and step for step instead of talk for talk.... No war, no sanctions, no threats, no bullying. Just acting according to the law and the fulfillment of obligations. We support peace and democracy in the entire Middle East. We consider nuclear knowledge an imperative and nuclear weapons prohibited.
“As victims of terrorism in the past and today we have always been and will always remain in the forefront of genuine confrontation with terrorism. Today, we mourn the martyrdom of tens of innocent people, who were recently murdered in cold blood by terrorists who shamelessly accepted responsibility from a number of Western capitals for their heinous crime in interviews with some Western-based broadcasting outfits that are financed by petrodollars.”
He then concluded his address with a discussion of the conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and between Israel and Palestine and the need that they all be resolved on the same principled basis, and stated: “The world will not have a better friend than Iran, if peace is what you seek.”
Meanwhile, Trump tweeted: “Despite requests, I have no plans to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Maybe someday in the future. I am sure he is an absolutely lovely man!”
