TEHRAN, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran's president-elect Hassan Rouhani said Monday that his country will try to be more " transparent" in its nuclear issue to "build confidence."
"The sanctions are problems which Iran faces today and all of us know that they are oppressive," Rouhani said at his first press conference after his election, adding that the use of sanctions in today's world is a "reactionary method and its time has already passed."
"The sanctions are not advantageous for the West either, which is facing economic problems. The (imposed) sanctions only benefit Israel, not other states," said Rouhani, who won Iran's presidency by garnering 50.7 percent of votes on Friday.
He said the next government will follow two steps as far as Iran's nuclear issue is concerned, "Firstly, Iran will display more transparency to tell the world that it is doing within the international regulations. And secondly, we will increase the confidence between Iran and the world."
About the talks between the Islamic republic and the world powers over the country's nuclear standoff, Rouhani said "We will further activate the talks with the P5+1 group."
"We believe that Iran's nuclear issue would only be settled though negotiations," the incoming president said, reiterating incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's words that "neither threats nor sanctions will yield results."
"Without doubt, the next government will defend Iranians' rights and will try to (find ways) to lift oppressing load of sanctions off the shoulders of the nation ... and it is possible by building mutual confidence" between the negotiating sides, said Rouhani.
Asked whether Iran is ready to partially suspend its uranium enrichment program to resume the talks with P5+1 group (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany), the president-elect said "We have other ways for trust-building."
He also said the activity of Iran's Fordo nuclear enrichment facility is one of the "minor subjects" that can be discussed in the next talks with the world powers.
The West accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of civilian nuclear programs, and has imposed a series of sanctions aimed at crippling Iran's economy. But Tehran always stresses that its nuclear program is for civilian use only.
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