Iran's Rouhani Says Nuclear Deal Issues Can Be Resolved

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Saturday that all issues with the West over the country’s nuclear program can be resolved, despite the differences. The comment follows Friday's round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 group, which consists of the U.K., China, France, Russia, and the U.S. plus Germany.

"I believe an agreement is possible. There is nothing that cannot be resolved and the other party must make its final decision for this," Rouhani said, according to Reuters, which cited state-run news agency IRNA, adding: "I believe it is possible to reach an agreement and there is nothing that cannot be resolved."

The West wants Iran to scale back its nuclear programs and assure the world powers that it cannot and will not make a nuclear weapon. In return, the sanctions slapped against Iran, which crippled its economy, would be lifted, the BBC reported. Since 2006, six resolutions, along with sanctions, have been adopted by the United Nations requiring Iran to stop enriching uranium. Since 2012, the U.S. and the European Union have also imposed additional sanctions on Iranian oil exports and banks, hitting the country’s economy.

Iran wants all the sanctions to be lifted, but a European negotiator said, according to Reuters, that such a step was "out of the question."

Rouhani had also said earlier in a televised address that the other side "realized that threats and sanctions are ineffective and the correct approach is to show understanding, agreement and respect towards the Iranian nation," BBC reported.

The negotiations between Iran and the global powers are set to resume on Wednesday, allowing just one week to meet the March 31 deadline to agree on the outlines of the nuclear deal. The agreement is due to be finalized by July, Agence France-Presse reported.