Iran's President-elect Says Nuclear Program 'Non-negotiable'
2021-06-22
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1Iranian President-Elect Ebrahim Raisi said Monday he would not meet with President Joe Biden or negotiate over Tehran's nuclear program.
2He also said he would not discuss the country's backing of regional militia groups.
3Raisi, 60, is the head of the Iranian judiciary.
4Monday was the first news conference after Friday's presidential election.
5The hard-liner Raisi won an easy victory after other candidates were barred from running.
6The U.S. must "lift all oppressive sanctions against Iran," Raisi said.
7Asked about Iran's missile program and its support of regional militias, he called the issues "non-negotiable."
8Iran has invested in missiles to counter its Arab neighbors who have bought billions of dollars in American weapons.
9Those missiles can fly 2,000 kilometers and go across the Middle East and reach U.S. military bases in the region.
10Iran also counts on support from militias like Yemen's Houthi rebels and Lebanon's militant Hezbollah.
11Those groups provide a balance against enemies like Saudi Arabia and Israel.
12Asked about a possible meeting with Biden, Raisi answered simply: "No."
13Abdolnasser Hemmati was Raisi's more moderate competitor in the election.
14He said during the campaign he might have been willing to meet with Biden.
15The White House did not immediately respond to Raisi's statements.
16Raisi was personally sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2019 due to his actions while serving as head of Iran's internationally criticized justice system.
17He is the first Iranian president to enter office under that condition.
18Raisi was strongly supported by Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
19The election had the lowest voter turnout in the Islamic Republic's history.
20Millions of Iranians did not vote in a protest of an election they saw as unfair.
21Khamenei did not allow reformist candidates to run or those who backed outgoing President Hassan Rouhani.
22Raisi's election comes as negotiators in Vienna try to save a deal meant to limit Iran's nuclear program.
23Previous U.S. president Donald Trump withdrew America from the agreement in 2018, so Iran stopped following the limitations set in the deal.
24It is now enriching uranium at 60 percent. That is its highest level ever, but still short of levels needed to produce weapons.
25There was another round of negotiations about the nuclear deal Sunday.
26But Raisi's victory raised concerns that the deal could be saved.
27Monday, Raisi called sanctions relief as "central to our foreign policy" and called on the U.S. to return to "your commitments" in the deal.
28On the topic of Saudi Arabia, Raisi said that Iran would have "no problem" with a possible reopening of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran.
29The embassy was closed in 2016 as relations between the countries worsened.
30Iran recently opened secret talks with Saudi Arabia to begin repairing relations.
31Raisi was defensive when asked about his involvement in a 1988 mass execution during the Iran-Iraq war.
32After a cease-fire, members of an Iranian opposition group armed by Saddam Hussein, attacked across the Iranian border from Iraq in a surprise.
33Iran eventually stopped the attack.
34Trials began around that time, with the fighters asked to identify themselves.
35Those who responded "mujahedeen" were sent to their deaths.
36Others were questioned about clearing minefields "for the army of the Islamic Republic," says a 1990 Amnesty International report.
37International rights groups estimate that as many as 5,000 people were executed. Raisi served during the trials.
38"All actions I carried out during my office were always in the direction of defending human rights," he said.
39I'm Dan Novak.
1Iranian President-Elect Ebrahim Raisi said Monday he would not meet with President Joe Biden or negotiate over Tehran's nuclear program. He also said he would not discuss the country's backing of regional militia groups. 2Raisi, 60, is the head of the Iranian judiciary. Monday was the first news conference after Friday's presidential election. The hard-liner Raisi won an easy victory after other candidates were barred from running. 3The U.S. must "lift all oppressive sanctions against Iran," Raisi said. Asked about Iran's missile program and its support of regional militias, he called the issues "non-negotiable." 4Iran has invested in missiles to counter its Arab neighbors who have bought billions of dollars in American weapons. Those missiles can fly 2,000 kilometers and go across the Middle East and reach U.S. military bases in the region. 5Iran also counts on support from militias like Yemen's Houthi rebels and Lebanon's militant Hezbollah. Those groups provide a balance against enemies like Saudi Arabia and Israel. 6Asked about a possible meeting with Biden, Raisi answered simply: "No." Abdolnasser Hemmati was Raisi's more moderate competitor in the election. He said during the campaign he might have been willing to meet with Biden. 7The White House did not immediately respond to Raisi's statements. Raisi was personally sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2019 due to his actions while serving as head of Iran's internationally criticized justice system. He is the first Iranian president to enter office under that condition. 8Raisi was strongly supported by Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The election had the lowest voter turnout in the Islamic Republic's history. Millions of Iranians did not vote in a protest of an election they saw as unfair. Khamenei did not allow reformist candidates to run or those who backed outgoing President Hassan Rouhani. 9Raisi's election comes as negotiators in Vienna try to save a deal meant to limit Iran's nuclear program. 10Previous U.S. president Donald Trump withdrew America from the agreement in 2018, so Iran stopped following the limitations set in the deal. It is now enriching uranium at 60 percent. That is its highest level ever, but still short of levels needed to produce weapons. 11There was another round of negotiations about the nuclear deal Sunday. But Raisi's victory raised concerns that the deal could be saved. Monday, Raisi called sanctions relief as "central to our foreign policy" and called on the U.S. to return to "your commitments" in the deal. 12On the topic of Saudi Arabia, Raisi said that Iran would have "no problem" with a possible reopening of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran. The embassy was closed in 2016 as relations between the countries worsened. Iran recently opened secret talks with Saudi Arabia to begin repairing relations. 13Raisi was defensive when asked about his involvement in a 1988 mass execution during the Iran-Iraq war. After a cease-fire, members of an Iranian opposition group armed by Saddam Hussein, attacked across the Iranian border from Iraq in a surprise. Iran eventually stopped the attack. 14Trials began around that time, with the fighters asked to identify themselves. Those who responded "mujahedeen" were sent to their deaths. Others were questioned about clearing minefields "for the army of the Islamic Republic," says a 1990 Amnesty International report. 15International rights groups estimate that as many as 5,000 people were executed. Raisi served during the trials. 16"All actions I carried out during my office were always in the direction of defending human rights," he said. 17I'm Dan Novak. 18Jon Gambrell reported this story for The Associated Press. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 19__________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21sanction - n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc. 22enrich - v. to improve the quality of (something) : to make (something) better 23commitment - n. a promise to do or give something 24execution - n. the act of killing someone especially as punishment for a crime