Iran's new president Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that sanctions and war threats cannot serve as an instrument to pressure the Iranian nation.
Making the remarks in his swearing-in ceremony in Iran's parliament, Rouhani said that dialog is the proper way to settle the issues with his country.
Although Western sanctions have inflicted pressure on the economy of Iranian people, the nation's participation in July-14 presidential elections indicated that the Iranians are "alert to protect their national interests" at any time, he said.
Dialog on basis of "equal footing" and "mutual respect" as well as "constructive interaction" would be the proper means to settle the issues, he said, urging the Western states to "drop the language of sanctions" in dealing with Iran.
