President Rouhani said in an address to an economic conference in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Tuesday that Iran is serious and determined in the nuclear negotiations, but the world needs to know that the opportunity offered by the Islamic Republic is not everlasting.

The Iranian president also stated that a final nuclear deal over Iran’s nuclear energy program would serve the interests of all parties.

Also commenting on the US-led sanctions on the Islamic Republic, Rouhani said Iran has taken major steps to counter the bans. “We have weakened the sanctions... the lifting of the sanctions is in the interest of everyone.”

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China – plus Germany agreed on the extension of nuclear talks until November 24 with a view to achieving a permanent deal that would end the decade-old dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program.

The two sides sealed an interim deal in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 23, 2013, for a six-month period. The deal, which took effect on January 20, expired on July 20.

Under the deal, dubbed the Geneva Joint Plan of Action, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities.

SHI/SHI