WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States hopes for a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program, a State Department spokesperson said Monday.
“We hope that the new Iranian government will engage substantively with the international community to reach a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program and to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in its investigation,” spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.
The U.S. and other western powers as well as Israel have feared for years that Iran aims to build a nuclear weapon.
President Rouhani of Iran said Sunday that Iran’s armed forces would only use their military power for defense purpose and not for anything else. Referring to Iran as a revolutionary country, Mr. Rouhani said, “a revolutionary country has no need to aggression. All regional states from the North Africa and Asia to the Middle East should learn religious democracy from Iran’s military forces.”
“We remain ready to work with Iran should the Rouhani administration choose to engage seriously,” Psaki said. “Secretary Kerry welcomes the (Iranian) Foreign Minister’s commitment to a substantive response and to his agreement to meeting in the short term with permanent UN Security Council members and Germany coordinated by EU High Representative Ashton to discuss the nuclear program.”
