New president says Iran's nuke program 'peaceful'

TEHRAN -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Thursday said that Iran's nuclear program is "peaceful".

According to the decree by the Iranian supreme leader, Iran forbids nuclear weapons and this weapon has no place in Iran's defense strategy, said Raisi after his inauguration in the parliament.

He dismissed the policy of pressure and sanctions, saying that the pressures will not cause the Iranian people to give up their legal rights.

Iran supports and welcomes any diplomatic proposal for the lift of sanctions, he said.

He also noted that "the most important and main priority of his foreign policy is to improve relations with neighboring countries".

"I extend my hand of friendship and brotherhood to all the countries of the region, particularly to the neighbors," he said.

Raisi was elected as Iran's new president on June 18 and formally assumed office after the supreme leader's decree on Tuesday and the swearing-in ceremony in the parliament on Thursday.