Iran says more needed than single Obama-Rouhani telecon to improve ties

Iran has said a single telephonic conversation between US President Barack Obama and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is not a sign that relations will be restored quickly.

The comments were made by Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi who sought to calm hard-line worries over groundbreaking exchanges with Washington.

Araghchi appeared to address Iranian factions, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard, that have grown uneasy over last week's 15-minute telephonic communication between Obama and Rouhani.

According to the Washington Times, Araghchi said that a history of high tensions between Tehran and Washington will not go back to normal relations due to a phone call, meeting or negotiation.

Rouhani seeks to restart stalled talks over its nuclear programme in the hopes of easing U.S.-led sanctions.

Iran, however, has not clarified what concessions it is willing to make with its nuclear programme in exchange.

Araghchi said that Iran has never trusted America 100 percent, adding that in the future they will remain on the same path and never trust them 100 percent.

According to the report, hard-line lawmaker Hamid Rasaei had criticized the phone call as breaking the resistance brand of Iran - a reference to the self-promoted idea that Iran is the anchor for opposition to Israel and Western influence in the region.

He said acceptance of Obama's phone call by Rouhani was "undignified" and allowed the U.S. to claim that Iran seeks to modify its policies.