Iran pledges to seek nuclear rights within NPT

TEHRAN - Iran pursues nothing in its nuclear program beyond its rights as stipulated in the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday.

"Iran seeks nothing beyond its rights based on the NPT's regulations, and should there be serious resolve in the other side, there exists the readiness here for reaching a final nuclear agreement and a comprehensive conclusion in a short-term span," Rouhani was quoted as saying by Press TV.

"All our (nuclear) activities are peaceful and will remain peaceful," Rouhani said in meeting with the members of the visiting Elders organization, headed by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

As for Syria crisis, he said that "We should unite en bloc for the cessation of war and killing in Syria."

"To this end, the most important step is the cessation of the support for and the prevention of assistance and transfer of weaponry to terrorist groups by some of the region's countries," he said, adding that "In addition, the issue of humanitarian assistance to the country's people inside and outside Syria must be considered."

For his part, Annan said that the world had to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria and stop the killings.

For the resolution of the issue, the United Nations Security Council and Syria's neighbors, especially Iran, had to play their roles, he was quoted as saying.

Annan, serves now as the chairman of the Elders organization, arrived in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Sunday along with former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, Nobel Peace laureate Desmond Tutu and Mexico's former President Ernesto Zedillo.

The Elders is an international NGO of public figures brought together by late South African leader Nelson Mandela in 2007.