Rouhani outlines steps to boost trust, transparency in nuclear program

TEHRAN, June 17 (UPI) -- Iranian president-elect Hassan Rouhani pledged Monday to take steps to increase transparency in the nation's nuclear program and revive the West's trust.

Rouhani announced his plans at a press conference in Tehran after beating out six candidates to win more than half of the votes in a presidential election Saturday.

He denounced as "cruel" Western sanctions imposed during the term of incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadenijad and promised to begin "moving on the path of increased transparency," Fars news agency reported.

"Of course, our nuclear programs are fully transparent, yet we are ready to still increase this transparency to clarify it to the whole world that the Islamic Republic of Iran's actions are completely within international frameworks," said Rouhani, who formerly headed Iran's nuclear negotiating team.

"In the second step, we will enhance mutual confidence [building] between Iran and other countries. That is to say, wherever trust is about to be impaired, we will strive to revive this trust."

While sanctions imposed by Western nations in response to Iranian intransigence about the state of its nuclear development program are a "problem," he said they also are "detrimental" to the West.

"If these sanctions produce any benefit, it would be in Israel's interest and have no other benefit for anyone else," Rouhani said.