«If there is no end to sanctions, there will not be an agreement,» President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech today in the northern Iranian city of Rasht, echoing remarks made last week by Iran’s most powerful authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
His comments came the day after US President Barack Obama was forced to give Congress a say in any future accord – including the right to veto the lifting of sanctions imposed by US lawmakers.
While Israel said it was pleased with the Congress move, Rouhani made it clear it was a domestic US issue that should have no bearing on the negotiations between Iran, the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China.
«What the US Senate, Congress and others say is not our problem. We want mutual respect … We are in talks with the major powers and not with the Congress,» Rouhani said.
«The end of these negotiations and a signed deal must include a declaration of cancelling the oppressive sanctions on the great nation of Iran,» said Rouhani.
A tentative deal between Iran and the six world powers was reached in Switzerland on April 2, and aimed at clearing the way for a final settlement on June 30.
Discussions will resume on April 21.
A delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, arrived in Tehran today for scheduled technical talks, Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported. Talks with the IAEA run parallel to the negotiations with world powers.
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