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Obama: Iran to be very successful regional power

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Dec 29, IRNA -- US President Barack Obama has admitted that Iran would become a "very successful regional power" if a long-term nuclear agreement is reached.

"They have got a chance to get right with the world," Obama said in an interview with NPR News, which was taped at the White House on Dec. 18 and aired on Monday, according to news agency reports.

Obama said a nuclear agreement with Iran is possible and would be a necessary first step in any greater diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

He also said he would be hopeful about working to improved relations under a scenario with an Iran that has a verified peaceful nuclear program, whose economy grows unhampered by sanctions and is reintegrated into the international community.

Obama said Iran should seize the chance of a long-term deal that could lift the sanctions.

"Because if they do, there's incredible talent and resources and sophistication inside of Iran and it would be a very successful regional power that was also abiding by international norms and international rules – and that would be good for everybody," the US president said.

Obama said he recognized that Iran has legitimate defense concerns after it suffered from a terrible war with Iraq in the 1980s.

Obama was asked whether his moves earlier this month to restore relations with Cuba might lead to similar steps with Iran, including opening an embassy in Tehran. He said Iran and Cuba were not comparable, but added, I never say never.

More than a year ago, Iran agreed to an interim agreement to suspend 20-percent uranium enrichment in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions pending on a long-term deal.

Despite progress in the talks, Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – China, Russia, Britain, France, and the United States – plus Germany failed to clinch a final deal by a Nov. 24 deadline. The talks have now been extended until July 1, 2015.

Tehran maintains that the issue of sanctions, not the level of uranium enrichment, is the main stumbling block to reaching a comprehensive deal.

Obama also rejected the idea of devoting another trillion dollars to sending US combat troops to fight the so-called Islamic State terrorists in Iraq.

We need to spend a trillion dollars rebuilding our schools, our roads, our basic science and research here in the United States, he said.

MR/1664