Details added (first version posted on 19:18)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 25
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani called the U.S.-led anti-IS (Islamic State) coalition a strategic mistake.
He made the remarks on Sept. 25 while addressing the 69th Annual Meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, U.S., Iranian news channel IRINN said Sept. 25.
Rouhani said the West is making "strategic blunders" in the region, adding "their erroneous policies have turned the Middle East and Central Asia into a heaven for terrorists."
He also warned about the results of wrong approaches in fighting terrorism, adding that terrorism has become globalized.
Rouhani noted that a proper solution to the problem of terrorism in the region can only originate from the region itself.
Commenting on the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the UK, the U.S. and Germany), Rouhani expressed hope on reaching a comprehensive agreement prior to the Nov. 24 deadline.
He stressed that Iran will continue its peaceful nuclear program under the international obligations.
Iran's president also called the Western sanctions "oppressive", but emphasized that the sanctions did not force Iran to negotiate with the West on the nuclear issue.
"Iranian nation started nuclear talks on its own will, not under the Western sanctions' pressure," he added.
Rouhani underscored that the nuclear issue has only one solution - the "negotiations".
The U.S. suspects Iran of developing a nuclear weapon - something that Iran denies.
On numerous occasions the Islamic Republic stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, using nuclear technology for electricity generation and medical purposes.