Global Oil Prices Fall Will Not Pressure Iran

President Rouhani said, “Iran won’t be pressured by the slump in oil prices” as it has envisaged economic plans to compensate for the drop.

Rouhani said that his administration has based the country's budget on the lowest ever dependency on oil revenues, adding that oil sales account for only one third of Iran’s budget.

The Iranian chief executive described the recent drop in oil prices as a “conspiracy” against certain countries, saying those behind the scheme would regret the move.

Those behind the fall in prices won’t be able to continue on that path, he said.

The Iranian president said countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are losing the most since their budgets are heavily dependent on oil revenues.

Iran’s President also said the country is to build two more nuclear plants in the southern city of Bushehr towards the use of peaceful nuclear energy.

“The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is different from the power plants of other countries since this power plant is the symbol of a nation’s resistance,” he noted.

“The construction of this power plant and making it operational showed the world that should a nation have a will to attain a goal, it will take steps in that direction, stand up for its rights and attain its goal.”

The Iranian chief executive said the plant is an example that shows Iran “is only after peaceful use of nuclear energy and electricity production.”

A senior Iranian nuclear negotiator has also described as “serious” nuclear talks between Tehran and the P5+1 group of world powers.

“The atmosphere of the negotiations is completely serious and transparent, and the parties are interested in reaching an agreement on Iran’s nuclear energy program," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said.

Araqchi made the remarks after Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry met in the Swiss city of Geneva to discuss the progress in Iran's nuclear talks.

The meeting in Geneva comes before a fresh round of nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 countries - the US, the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany. Both sides are still working on outstanding issues for a final deal over the Iranian nuclear energy program. 

Like Iran, he added, the other side is also serious in the negotiations, and it is clear that the two sides are determined to clinch a deal.

“All efforts are underway,” the senior Iranian negotiator said, adding, “It is, however, too early to judge the outcome of the talks.”

“We hope to reach a comprehensive agreement in the end,” the Iranian diplomat further noted.

Iranian lawmakers are considering a motion that would allow the country to enrich uranium to “any level it wishes” should the Western states impose further bans against Tehran over its nuclear program.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the Western countries, spearheaded by the US, are not after resolving the longstanding dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program, stressing that the Islamic Republic keeps a close watch on their behavior.

“Some Iranian lawmakers are pursuing a motion based on which Iran would enrich uranium to any level it wishes if the West moves to impose new sanctions against the Islamic Republic,” Larijani said.

The top Iranian parliamentarian further called on the Westerners to seize the opportunity created by the ongoing nuclear negotiations and help close Tehran’s nuclear dossier.

The comments come after reports said the new Republican-controlled US Congress is considering a new sanctions bill against Iran over its nuclear activities.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has warned that any new US sanctions against the Islamic Republic could lead to a “halt” in the nuclear discussions.