White House hints at historic Obama-Rouhani meeting at UN

The White House has hinted at the possibility of a historic meeting between President Barack Obama and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani during the United Nations meet next week.

The White House welcomed the rhetoric from Iran over its nuclear programme.

On Wednesday, Rouhani gave an interview to NBC, insisting the country had no intention of putting its civilian nuclear programme to military ends.

Rouhani suggested he had political authority inside Iran to negotiate a solution to a standoff with the west over the programme.

According to the Guardian, both Obama and Rouhani will be in New York for the United Nations General Assembly meeting.

Hopes are rising that the two leaders may discuss what progress on nuclear weapons would be required for the U.S. to lift its crippling sanctions regime against Iran.

Carney again hinted this was possible, but insisted the US had always been willing to talk to Iran about ending the alleged nuclear weapons programme, the report added.