President Hassan Rouhani said the nuclear talks with major powers that resulted in a historic deal last month sent a message to the world that Iran's power lies in a self-commitment to use logic as well as its ability to negotiate.
"We do not regard military force and weapons as a measure of power. We, rather, consider our power deriving from logic, reasoning and effort to promote peace," Rouhani was quoted by IRNA as saying.
He made the remarks in his address at the opening ceremony of the 6th General Assembly of the AhlulBayt World Assembly in Tehran on Saturday.
About 20 months of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany) culminated in a deal on July 14 in Vienna to end a 12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.
"Atomic bombs cannot bring peace and stability to the aggressive Zionists, nor can modern weapons provide our neighbors security," the president noted.
Israel is widely believed to have the only nuclear arsenal in the region, but does not acknowledge it.
He reassured regional states that Iran intends to use its power solely to advance the cause of regional peace.
"We have not and will not use our scientific, spiritual and political clout against any regional or neighboring Muslim countries," Rouhani said, adding, "We want to use our strength to help restore peace, stability and security to the region."
Some Persian Gulf Arab states are concerned that the nuclear accord could enable Iran to increase its influence in the region.
"We proved that we are able to rely on logic and our political power to negotiate with world powers and compel them to recognize our inalienable right to … nuclear knowhow and technology for peaceful purposes and to end sanctions and UN Security Council resolutions," he stressed.
The president called on Muslim countries to contribute their share to the fight against attempts to portray a distorted image of Islam.
"We should not allow the enemies of Islam, which is a religion of blessing, moderation, mercy and protection for all humans, to present it as a religion of violence and massacre and a destroyer of civilizations with the help of terrorist groups," he said in a particular reference to atrocities committed by the so-called Islamic State militant group in the name of Islam.
