Iran says no n-deal unless sanctions removed

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that no deal on Iran's nuclear programme was possible unless sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic were lifted, Press TV reported.

"The world, the P5+1 group, the US administration, US president and Senate should know that there will be no deal if the sanctions are not removed," Rouhani said in an address in Rasht, the capital of the norther Iranian province of Guilan.

"The end of the negotiations (between Iran and the P5+1 group) and the time of signing a (final) deal should be (the time of) declaring an end to and the lifting of cruel sanctions on the great Iranian nation," Rouhani added.

In the upcoming nuclear talks, sanctions will be the main focus of the negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group of major world powers comprising the US, Russia, China, France, Britain, plus Germany.

"We want interaction in return for interaction. We want goodwill in return for goodwill," the Iranian president said.

Iran and the world powers reached a mutual understanding on Tehran's nuclear programme in Lausanne, Switzerland, on April 2.

The two sides are expected to start drafting a final inclusive deal, which they seek to sign by the end of June.

The US has announced the sanctions will be lifted gradually.