Iran Press/Asia: Speaking on Wednesday in a cordial meeting with Iranians living in Malaysia during his visit to the country, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said: “In 2018 the Americans withdrew from the nuclear deal without a valid reason or even a pretext, and they encouraged other countries to follow suit, but the Americans didn't succeed, other countries (even their European allies) disapproved and even condemned their move.”
"The goal that the Americans and Zionists were pursuing was to isolate us through sanctions and maximum pressure, they were hoping to give an incentive to people to rise against the state,” Rouhani said according to President's official website.
“Despite what they thought, the Iranian nation resisted in spite of having hard living conditions because of the unjust US sanctions that included foodstuffs and medicines,” the president added.
"The Iranian nation even turned the enemies’ maximum pressure and sanctions into opportunities for themselves,” Rouhani continued.
The Iranian President arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Tuesday evening local time, at the official invitation of the Malaysian Prime Minister to attend the Muslim leaders’ summit.
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Today, the Iranian nation has more resistance
“Today, our resistance against foreign pressures is more than before,” said the President.
"With the resistance and steadfastness of the Iranian nation against sanctions and enemies’ maximum economic pressure, the situation is better than last year,” he added.
"During the term of office of the 11th government, the Islamic Republic of Iran wanted to make it clear to the world that we believe that issues and disputes with other countries are resolvable through negotiation and dialogue,” Rouhani continued.
“Some inside and outside of the country thought that Iranians were reluctant to have a negotiation, and we wanted to announce that it is not Iran who is reluctant and that we are ready to discuss regional and global issues in order to resolve differences through dialogue,” he added.
"At one point, the other side showed interest and we could reach agreements with the six world powers, and at another point, after the US unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), we proved that we never break our promise,” said the Iranian President.
Sanction cannot continue as lose-lose path; Americans have to return
The President said that sanction cannot continue as a lose-lose path, adding, "I believe that this sanction cannot continue because it is an illegal move.”
“Americans have no choice but to return from this path, and we will force them to do so with our resistance and steadfastness,” he added.
Iran to have positive economic growth
The President also said: "We faced some economic problems in 2018 with the unprecedented sanctions; Problems that affected inflation, our economic growth, disruptions in the goods and foreign exchange market, but people could handle the situation.”
Stating that the country’s monthly inflation has a downward trend, he added: "Our estimates show that this year’s economic growth will not be negative, but positive.”
On self-sufficiency in the car parts manufacturing, Rouhani said, "Today, some of the parts that used to be imported are being manufactured inside the country.”
“In the field of oil and gas facilities and building turbines and compressors, we had problems, but now we are building them and enemy pressure is nudging us towards self-sufficiency,” the President added.
"Some countries thought that we could not give an appropriate response in face of military pressure, but we were able to respond to their ship violating the rules in the Persian Gulf and bring down their drone, which violated Iran's airspace, with our own defence system,” he continued.
Regarding nuclear field advancements, Rouhani said: "Today, our new IR6 centrifuges are working and the newer IR9s are being tested.”
“Today, the entire world knows that America's withdrawal from the JCPOA was not to the benefit of anyone, even the US itself and its allies,” noted President Rouhani.
Iranians residing oversees are ambassadors of culture, merciful Islam
"Iranians residing outside of the country are ambassadors for Iranian culture and merciful Islam,” he emphasized.
Stating that the Iranian nation has always been against extremism and terrorism, Rouhani concluded: "You need to convey the message of the Iranian nation -- a message of peace and friendship.”
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