Rouhani: Iran prepared to guarantee nuke program peaceful

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Iran is prepared to guarantee its nuclear program is peaceful only if its right to develop nuclear energy is respected, President Hassan Rouhani said Friday.

Rouhani said during a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization the guarantee could be ensured by "consolidating mutual trust," RIA Novosti reported.

Iran conforms with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty while maintaining "the incontestable right of all the participants in the treaty to the peaceful use of nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment," Rouhani said.

During his remarks at the summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Rouhani also criticized what he termed "politically motivated sanctions against Iran" as "unwarranted and unlawful."

Western countries charge Iran is using its nuclear program to develop atomic weapons, while Tehran says its nuclear program is for civilian use.

ITAR-Tass reported the SCO leaders adopted a declaration Friday that expresses "concern over the situation around Iran and its nuclear program. They believe threats of use of military force and unilateral sanction measures of some states against the country are unacceptable," the document said.

Russia's initiative to rid Syria of chemical weapons, along with actions President Bashar Assad's regime in response to the initiative give "hope that we will be able to avert a new war in the region," Rouhani said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Bishkek.