Bold Decisions Needed to Finalize Nuclear Deal, Says Rouhani

By Steven Hogg - 27 Sep '14 05:01AM

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Friday that bold decisions have to be taken to finalize a long term nuclear agreement.

Speaking to reporter on the sidelines of the Un General Assembly meeting in New York, Rouhani said that progress in the talks between Iran and the six world powers was too slow.

Rouhani also said that his country would not accept any deal without lifting of all sanctions imposed on it.

"We must look forward to the future and make the courageous decisions vis-a-vis this problem," Rouhani said. "Iran will never surrender its legal right to civilian nuclear activities," he said. "Enrichment will continue on our soil."

"Sanctions should be lifted totally and altogether and any agreement that does not have that will not be acceptable for Iran. This agreement will be beneficial for Iran, the P5+1 and for stability in the region," he added, reports Reuters.

Iran and six world powers - U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany- face a Nov. 24 deadline set by the negotiators for agreeing to a permanent deal to downsize Iran's nuclear program in exchange for reduced sanctions.

German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said that a solution to the issue was closer than before. However, the remaining work, in all probability was more difficult, he said, reports Voice of America.

Meanwhile, US diplomats are considering a proposal to permit Iran to keep almost half the centrifuge machines already spinning, but bring down the amount of uranium gas fed in to the machines. Iran would need more than a year to enrich the required material for building a nuclear warhead, reports the Associated Press.