“The majority of UN member states, including the 120 Non-Aligned movement (NAM) members, have dismissed the sanctions against Iran as illegitimate, illegal and politically motivated,” Rouhani said during a speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek on Friday.

“These sanctions are an uncivilized move and a dangerous precedent [and are] aimed at disrupting the trend of Iran’s development [and have] mercilessly targeted the ordinary and innocent [Iranian] citizens,” he added.

Rouhani said the Islamic Republic of Iran deems disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation necessary for international peace and stability, reiterating that Tehran is committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) based on its “legal commitments, religious and moral tenets and strategic considerations.”

The Iranian president further called for political will, mutual respect, and confidence-building measures to resolve the West’s nuclear dispute with Iran.

He said that the Islamic Republic believes that peaceful nuclear technology is the “inalienable right of all NPT member states.”

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and European Union using the claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.

Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

The IAEA has already conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities, but has never found any evidence showing that Iran's civilian nuclear program has been diverted toward military objectives.

SHI/SHI