Iran's Rouhani greets improved US ties

In an interview on American network CBS on Sunday, Rouhani reflected on the deal signed in July under which Iran is to redesign, convert and reduce its nuclear facilities in exchange for the lifting of international economic sanctions.

"What's important is which direction we are heading," Rouhani told the "60 Minutes" news program. "Are we heading towards amplifying the enmity or decreasing this enmity? I believe we have taken the first steps towards decreasing this enmity."

But Rouhani added that "the distance, the disagreements, the lack of trust, will not go away soon."

The July deal was struck with the so-called P5+1 group, consisting of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, and China, plus Germany. The European Union was also involved in the talks.

Deal approval

Republican members of the US Congress who opposed the deal were unable to gather the necessary votes by last week's deadline. Rouhani said he was confident Iran's parliament and the Supreme National Security Council would also approve the deal.

"The majority of our people, in opinion polls, have a positive view of the agreement," Rouhani told CBS. "Institutions like the parliament and the Supreme National Security Council are usually not far removed from public opinion and move in that direction."

Some members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have expressed their opposition, but Rouhani said they would "respect this agreement."

Rouhani also held out the possibility of a prisoner exchange: "I don't particularly like the word exchange, but from a humanitarian perspective, if we can take a step, we must do it," he said. "The American side must take its own steps."

A number of Americans are currently being held in Iranian jails, including "Washington Post" reporter Jason Rezaian. Iranians citizens are also being held in American jails.

Site inspection

Earlier Sunday, International Atomic Energy Agency head Yukiya Amano (photo, at left) visited Iran's Parchin military site where nuclear arms research is believed to have taken place, according to intelligence agencies.

Inspection of the complex has previously been limited, and Amano's visit is seen as a key step in the implementation of the nuclear deal.

jm/cmk (Reuters, AFP)