Iran: Rouhani reiterates call for lifting all sanctions

TEHRAN, Iran

The Iranian president has reiterated his call for lifting all international economic sanctions against Iran to conclude a deal over the country’s controversial nuclear program.

Addressing a gathering in Rasht, the capital of Iran’s northern Gilan province, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said: "The end of the negotiations and the signing of a final deal must include a declaration on cancellation of cruel sanctions on the great nation of Iran."

According to Iran’s official state agency, IRNA, the president also said that Iran would not pay heed to internal disputes of the U.S. Congress because its agreement would not be just with the U.S., but the entire world powers’ group, P5+1.

“It is none of our business to heed to the current disputes at U.S. Senate and their mercenaries as Iran expects goodwill and respect in return. We explicitly declare that we are not dealing with the U.S. Senate and Congress, but we are now negotiating with P5+1

“Current disputes between the U.S. Senate and their mercenaries have nothing to do with us,' Rouhani said.

His comments came after a U.S. Senate committee Tuesday unanimously approved a compromise bill that gave Congress more say in the final agreement with Iran. Lawmakers in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved the bill in a bipartisan vote, 19-0.

The bill will require Obama to submit any final agreement with Iran to the U.S. Congress, which will have 30 days to review the accord; Obama will have an additional 12 days to accept or veto legislation that Congress passes and 10 days for U.S. Congress to decide on a potential veto override vote.

Iran and the P5+1 countries - U.S., Russia, Britain, France, China, plus Germany - reached a framework deal in early April in Switzerland on Iran's nuclear activities and are aiming to reach a final agreement before the June 30 deadline.