Rouhani says most Iranians want peace

An overwhelming majority of Iranians want peace with the rest of the world, President Hassan Rouhani says, defending the nuclear negotiations under way with major powers.

“Despite a small minority that speak loudly, the vast majority of the population are in favor of peace, reconciliation and constructive agreement with the world,” Rouhani says during a televised speech in Shahriyar, west of Tehran.

“We are determined to solve our problems with the world through logic, reasoning and negotiation,” Rouhani says, adding that “the strong nuclear negotiating team takes serious steps every day toward protecting the rights of the nation.”

During a closed session in parliament on Sunday, ultraconservative lawmakers strongly criticized Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his deputy Abbas Araqchi, who are leading the nuclear talks with major powers.

The lawmakers accused them of having accepted in principle military site inspections by foreign experts, which have been ruled out by Khamenei. Araghchi later said the negotiating team had refused such inspections.

— AFP