Iran's Rouhani urges P5+1 not to miss 'exceptional opportunity'

TEHRAN - Agence France-Presse

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani stands in his office ahead of a meeting with Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Tehran, Nov. 9. AP photo

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Nov. 9 urged world powers not to miss an "exceptional opportunity" to reach an agreement in their ongoing nuclear talks in Geneva.

"I hope that the P5+1 group make the most out of this exceptional opportunity that the Iranian nation has offered to the international community, so that we can reach a positive result within a reasonable time frame," he was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

Rouhani, a moderate, said the opportunity to reach a deal with world powers was made possible with his election in June replacing hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

One of the slogans of his election campaign was "constructive interaction with the world". Rouhani, who made the comments during a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, insisted that the only solution to the nuclear dispute was through "negotiations" and "mutual trust." His comments come as diplomats grappled to secure a landmark deal at a third day of crucial talks on Iran's nuclear programme in Geneva.

Iranian officials have said that if no deal is reached by the end of the day Nov. 9, a new round of talks will be held in seven to 10 days.

The P5+1 group consists of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.