(Reuters) - Iran is determined to negotiate a comprehensive deal on its nuclear programme with major powers so it can develop its battered economy, President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday, inviting Western companies to seize opportunities now.
Addressing the World Economic Forum in Davos, the pragmatic president said Tehran was negotiating with the United States as part of a "constructive engagement" with the world and wanted Washington to back up its words with actions.
However, a day after a chaotic Syria peace conference from which Iran was excluded, he was unbending in his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Ending the "terrorism" that is backed by some of Syria's neighbours was a precondition for any settlement of the country's civil war, he said.Elected last year on a promise to improve Tehran's relations with outside world, Rouhani took the United Nations by storm in New York in September. His appearance in the Swiss resort launched phase two of a charm offensive aimed at ending international sanctions that are crippling Iran's economy.An interim deal with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - known as the P5+1 - came into force this week. This granted Iran a limited easing of the sanctions in return for temporary constraints on its uranium enrichment and nuclear development.
Rouhani stressed his commitment to achieving a final settlement. "Iran has a serious will to come to an agreement with the P5+1," he told the assembled business and political leaders. "I do not see a serious impediment in the way of this agreement. The Iranian will is strong."
Asked what might prevent a long-term settlement, he cited the risk of "pressure from other parties" - a veiled reference to Israel, which denounced the interim deal as an "historic mistake" and urged the U.S. Congress to resist it.
Rouhani broke no new diplomatic ground in his speech. In a private session with energy executives, he promised a new, attractive investment model for oil contracts by September as part of a drive to lure back Western business barred by the U.S.-led sanctions, participants said.
Relations with Europe were being normalised now that the interim nuclear accord was being implemented, he said. Rouhani met European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on the sidelines of the forum, an EU official said.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared to engage in constructive cooperation for promoting global energy security, drawing on its vast oil and gas resources," he said.
However, most sanctions, including a severe squeeze on Iran's access to the international financial system, remain in force and the United States has stressed Western companies
should not regard Iran as "open for business".
should not regard Iran as "open for business".
"PRUDENCE AND MODERATION"
Rouhani promised to pursue a consistent foreign policy of "prudence and moderation" to revive the economy.
He called for cooperation with all Iran's neighbours but did not mention Gulf rival Saudi Arabia by name and refused, when pressed twice, to include Israel among states with which Iran sought friendly relations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in Davos but not in the hall during the speech, said in a statement: "Rouhani continues Iran's deception show.
"The goal of the Iranian ayatollahs' regime, that hides behind Rouhani's smile, is to ease sanctions without giving up their programme to produce nuclear weapons," Netanyahu said, urging the international community "not to be duped".
Rouhani repeated Iran's standard pledge not to seek nuclear weapons and said Tehran was willing to accept all safeguards and inspections of the U.N. nuclear agency, provided it was not subjected to "discrimination". Western countries believe the atomic effort is aimed at developing a military capability.
"We never sought and will never seek nuclear weapons," the president said. "I declare that a nuclear weapon has no place in our security strategy."
But in a foretaste of tough negotiations on a long-term agreement, he said: "Iran will not accept any obstacles to its scientific progress."
Some Western energy chiefs said they were impressed by his commitment to attract foreign investment in the sector, which has seen production cut by a third and exports halved by the sanctions.
"The fact that the president of Iran came to the meeting today... is clearly a sign that Iran wants to open up to international oil companies," said Paolo Scaroni, chief executive ofItaly's Eni, who was at the meeting.
"It was an impressive presentation," said one of three other oil executives who attended and spoke with Reuters on condition of anonymity.
CONSTRUCTIVE ENGAGEMENT
The United States and other Western powers want Tehran to end high-grade uranium enrichment and shut down a heavy-water reactor capable of producing plutonium nuclear fuel under any permanent settlement. Iran rejects these steps.
With Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former intelligence chief and ambassador to the United States, sitting in the audience, Rouhani said Iran sought cooperation "with the littoral states of the Persian Gulf", but he did not name Saudi Arabia, which has expressed concern about the interim nuclear deal.
In a clear swipe at Riyadh and Qatar, he renewed criticism of countries he did not name which he said were supporting terrorism in Syria, saying this would rebound on them at home.
Iran was shut out of Wednesday's U.N.-sponsored peace conference in Montreux, Switzerland, because of its refusal to endorse a framework for a transition from Assad's rule.
Rouhani was due to meet journalists and other business leaders before leaving Davos later on Thursday.
(Additional reporting by Mirna Sleiman and Dmitry Zhdannikov in Davos, Jeffrey Heller in Jerusalem; Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Mike Collett-White and David Stamp)
Source: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/01/23/uk-davos-iran-rouhani-idUKBREA0M0KD20140123
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