TEHRAN - Presidential hopeful Mir-Hossein Mousavi declared on Monday that any relationship with the United States should not be dependent on compromising Iran’s right to nuclear technology, saying “the cost of the relationship is not equal to giving up our nation’s nuclear rights.”

The former prime minister said Iran as a signatory to the non-proliferation regime has legal right to nuclear technology for civilian purposes and “we have no right to back down from this right.”
He noted that nuclear technology is “as important as the nationalization of oil” in Iran, a reference to controlling oil resources in 1953.
The presidential hopeful insisted that Iran’s nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and “it is not a threat to international peace.”
There must be a “distinction between right to nuclear technology” and proliferation of nuclear arms which Iran seriously opposes, he reiterated.
He added the resolution of Iran’s nuclear issue will become “difficult” if the United States continues to accuse Iran of seeking nuclear arms.
Obama’s speech in Prague cast shadow over his Norouz message
Mousavi said President Obam’s talks on Iran in Prague on Sunday “cast a shadow over his Norouz” (Persian New Year) message to Iran.
“The tone of the new American president has naturally changed and I see this change and I will wait to see the practical effects…though talks in Prague cast a shadow over his Norouz talks and made charges which can make every step for (establishing) relations with America” difficult.
However, he added, “We monitor the change slogan and wait to see what will be the next steps.”
The former prime minister also went on to say that Obama should not behave like his predecessor George W. Bush who called Iran a part of an axis of evil despite Tehran’s help to Washington in Afghanistan when it toppled the Taliban regime in 2001.
Currently, the Obama administration is seeking Iran’s help in stemming rising violence in Afghanistan and Iran participated in a conference on Afghan in The Hague last week.
Mousavi did not rule out that Iran will benefit from a possible relationship with the Untied States. However, he insisted, “The cost of the relationship is not equal to giving up our nation’s nuclear rights.”
He went on to say that dialogue with the U.S. is not a “taboo” for Tehran but “we should see how much we will benefit and how much we will lose.”
Opposition to extremism
He said he is critical of the current administration’s economic policies, which he called “unstable”, and extremism in foreign policy.
He said law-evading, lack of transparency and presenting unrealistic statistics, extremism in foreign policy, and the annulment of certain centers which are very important in setting economic policies prompted him to enter the election “Law evading” is becoming a norm in the current administration, he added.
“What prompted me to take this decision and did not answer no (to become a candidate) was that I noticed that rule of the play was being disturbed.”
Mousavi, who called himself a reformist and strongly insists on principles, said law-evading has created a situation that “we should feel fear from”.
Some of behaviors in circumventing law may be done with “goodwill” but abiding by the law is very important even if one does not like it.
He said Iran has paid dearly for extremism in foreign policy. For example, he said “once we call the Israeli people our friend…and elsewhere anti-West rhetoric heats up …and then followed by letters…and the continuation of such a situation is dangerous.”
Mousavi was alluding to Vice President Esfandiar Rahim Mashai who once said “Iran is even a friend of Israeli people” and Ahmadinejad’s letters to former president George W. Bush and the current German Chancellor Angela Markel.
Priorities
On his future priorities, Mousavi pointed out that he intends to revive the organizations or bodies which their structure have been damaged, create a situation for free flow of information, which is very important in fighting corruption, to prevent a constant change in setting economic policies and foreign policy matters, defend freedom of expression and press as stated in the Constitution, use national resources for strategic purposes, following a détente policy and wining international confidence.
“We should avoid any ill-considered work… and restore Iran’s image.”
He was critical of constant changes in managerial posts in the Ahmadinejad administration. For example, he said, foreigners do not show interest in investing in Iran when they notice the Central Bank governor is changed “three time in three years”.
On developing economy, he said he will focus on “local production and private investment”.
Mousavi who enjoys the support of former president Mohammad Khatami also said he will act open-handedly in appointing ministers and managers and will reach out to anybody who can help his government regardless of his political persuasions.
“As a reformist who insists on principles I will extend my hand for help to all those forces who abide by the constitution.”
Holocaust
On Holocaust, he said there is no doubt that many people were killed by the Nazis during the Second World War, and the question is not whether they were Jews or not or how many were killed. He noted the strong indication for such crimes was the immigration of Polish citizens who fled from prosecution during the war and that they have a cemetery in Iran.
However, the presidential candidate said the point is that why “Palestinians should pay for the crimes of Nazis.”
Israel-Palestine conflict
He said Iran supports a solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on international law and referring to Palestinian people’s vote in determining the fate of their country.
“If there will be an action based on international conventions and norms the Palestinian issue will be solved… (otherwise) I do not think the conflict would be solved in the region,” he said when asked whether he supports the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders if he is elected president.
He also criticized certain Western countries’ unquestionable support for Israel, saying “the unjust stance of certain countries like America” will complicate the issue of finding a solution to the lingering conflict.