President: Tehran Ready for Constructive Talks, Not to Stop Enrichment

“Iran will continue uranium enrichment. This is out of question,” the Iranian president said in a press conference broadcast live on state television on Saturday.

Commenting on July 20th deadline for Iran and five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany to reach a comprehensive nuclear deal, Rouhani said the West should take the best advantage of the next five weeks to resolve the standoff over Tehran’s  nuclear energy program.

“I think if the P5+1 shows good will and serious resolve, we can reach a final deal in the coming 5 weeks,” he said reiterating that such a nuclear agreement will benefit the region and the world.

Rouhani also said the remaining difference between Iran and the world six powers can be resolved through goodwill and flexibility.

“Even if we fail to reach a final agreement by July 20, the previous circumstances will not return…Every body admits that wall of sanctions has cracked. Those days will not return,” he emphasized.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (alternatively known as the P5+1 or E3+3) inked an interim deal on Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva last November, which came into force on January 20. The interim deal (the Joint Plan of Action) stipulates that over the course of six months (July 20), the parties will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of the whole sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) are scheduled to convene a new round of high-profile negotiations in the Austrian capital from June 16 to 20.

The upcoming negotiations are aimed at drafting a comprehensive deal to resolve the decade-long standoff over Tehran's peaceful nuclear energy program.