U.S. President Barack Obama says Iran has not yet agreed to what he feels is necessary to achieve a final nuclear agreement. In an interview with Huffington Post, Obama commented on the progress of the nuclear talks with Iran, saying: “They have not yet made the kind of concessions that are I think going to be needed for a final deal to get done. But they have moved, and so there’s the possibility.”
Obama had issued a Norooz message to the people and leaders of Iran, saying they should not miss what he referred to as a “historic opportunity” to end the nuclear disputes and change the relations between their two countries.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, however, dismissed Obama’s message, accusing him of dishonesty. “I saw the Norooz message of the U.S. president. He says accept all that we dictate to you in the nuclear negotiations so that we can bring prosperity to your country with foreign investments.”
The Iranian leader stressed that it is a mistake to think that a change in Iran’s foreign policy and conceding to force would result in economic prosperity. He has, therefore, called for a focus on domestic production rather than foreign investment.
He also rejected Obama’s claim that a number of groups in Iran are opposed to resolving the nuclear disputes. Ayatollah Khamenei said there are no such people in the country.
Obama said in his interview with Huffington Post that the negotiations have been brought to a hiatus due to Norooz holidays in Iran, adding that it is a good time for the parties to consider their positions.
He added that they are hoping to resolve the matter within the coming weeks.
The Iranian leader has said that any agreement has to include the complete removal of all sanctions on Iran.
