Nuclear Deal Likely If Other Side Determined: Iran’s Rouhani


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that a nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers can be reached by the self-imposed deadline of June 30 if the other side is serious about it.

"Good progress has been made in the nuclear negotiations between the two sides, and if there is a serious will in the other side, we can reach the final deal by the specified deadline," Rouhani said.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto here in Tehran.

The Iranian president went on to say that Iran has proved it is transparent in its nuclear energy program and has shown a strong will in the negotiations with the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, US, Britain, France, and Germany).

Iran's activities are under the surveillance of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and its peaceful nuclear activities will continue, Rouhani added.

He further denounced as unacceptable and futile the employment of pressure and sanctions as a solution to the dispute.

Iran and the six powers are in talks to hammer out a lasting accord that would end more than a decade of impasse over Tehran's peaceful nuclear program.

On April 2, the two sides reached a framework nuclear agreement in Lausanne, Switzerland, with both sides committed to push for a final deal until the end of June.