Dismantling nuclear facilities 'red line' for Iran: President Rouhani

LONDON - Agence France-Presse

In this Sept. 26, file photo, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani waits to speak during an address and discussion hosted by the Asia Society and the Council on Foreign Relations at the Hilton Hotel in New York. AP photo

Iran will not dismantle its nuclear facilities, President Hassan Rouhani said in an interview with The Financial Times published Nov. 29 after a historic deal between Tehran and world powers.

Asked by the newspaper whether dismantling Iran's atomic facilities was a "red line" for the Islamic republic, Rouhani replied: "100 percent".

Israel has bitterly opposed the deal struck in Geneva last weekend, saying that any pact with Tehran must have the sole purpose of dismantling Iran's nuclear capability.

Pending negotiations for a broader agreement, the deal struck in Geneva early Nov. 24 calls for a six-month's freeze of Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for limited sanctions relief. But it does not call for dismantling Iran's nuclear facilities.

Rouhani meanwhile held out hope for further improvements in Iran's relations with the United States.

"Iran-US problems are very complicated and cannot be resolved over a short period of time. Despite the complications, there has been an opening over the past 100 days, which can widen later," he told the FT.