Iran nuclear talks under Leader’s guidance: Rouhani

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani says Tehran will continue nuclear talks with its negotiating partners under the guidelines of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

Rouhani made the remarks in a meeting with political activists on Wednesday night.

The Iranian president said that the Islamic Republic seeks serious talks with the P5+1 group of countries to arrive at a “fair” deal over Tehran’s nuclear program.

“…Our issue is negotiations; we do not want to merely adopt a stance, but we are seeking serious talks and a fair understanding,” Rouhani said.

Rouhani termed the nuclear talks with the six world powers as a great political issue, saying, “Today we are seeking to consolidate the nation’s right through dialog and interaction.”

On Tuesday, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “All Iranian authorities, while insisting on [the country’s] red lines, are pursuing a good deal [with the P5+1], which is a fair and honorable agreement in line with Iran’s interests.”

The Iranian chief executive further urged national unity and solidarity to overcome problems facing the country, including the impact of “cruel sanctions” imposed on the country.

Rouhani’s remarks came as Iran and the P5+1 group – the United States, the UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany – are holding extensive talks in the Austrian city of Vienna to finalize the text of a possible deal over Tehran’s nuclear program by the end of June.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is scheduled to travel to Vienna on Saturday to join his deputies Abbas Araqchi and Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi, who have been holding talks about the text of a possible comprehensive deal on Tehran’s nuclear program since June 17.