Nuclear deal isolated Israel, Rouhani indicates

TEHRAN  — Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Israel had become isolated after his country and world powers reached a historic deal on Tehran’s nuclear program.

In a Tuesday interview with state TV marking his first 100 days in office, Rouhani said that the tables had been turned on those who tried to turn Iran into a pariah state.

“Many were trying to isolate Iran, but who is isolated today? Our enemies are in fact isolated,” he said, according to a translation by semi-official Press TV.

He did not refer to Israel by name, but used language — “an illegitimate, occupier regime” — commonly used to describe the country, Iran’s arch-enemy.

Israel has repeatedly criticized the deal and called it a “historic mistake.”

The six-month bargain includes greater access for UN inspectors to Iran and a cap on the level of uranium enrichment, in exchange for eased sanctions.

Rouhani touted the deal as a turning point for the Islamic Republic.

“World powers have recognized Iran’s nuclear rights,” he said, according to the Financial Times. “The confirmation from the great powers is of huge value.”

He added that the agreement had broken the sanctions regime.

“The centrifuges are functioning now and the people’s economic conditions will also get better,” he said, according to a translation posted by the state-run IRNA news site.

Rouhani now faces the task of selling the deal to skeptics and hard-liners.