In an address to a gathering of people in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan on Tuesday, President Rouhani said that Iran’s nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment, have been recognized in the deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, France, Britain, Russia, China - plus Germany sealed an interim deal in Geneva on November 24, 2013, to pave the way for the full resolution of the decade-old dispute with Tehran over its nuclear energy program. The deal came into force on January 20.

Rouhani reiterated that, “We will go forward step by step in the negotiations and will prove to the world that what had been said about Iran in the past was mere lies.”

“Iran has never sought and will never seek nuclear weapons,” the Iranian president said, adding that the country is determined to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Rouhani arrived in Sistan-and-Baluchestan’s provincial capital of Zahedan earlier on Tuesday. During his two-day visit, he will also tour several other cities and hold meetings with local scholars and entrepreneurs.

Several cabinet ministers are accompanying President Rouhani. Since taking office, this is Rouhani’s third provincial tour, after visits to Khuzestan and Hormozgan provinces.

SHI/SHI