CRI听力:Rouhani: Iran 'Steadfast' before World Powers

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says he remains optimistic about the prospect of reaching a deal with world powers over his country's nuclear programme.

Rouhani has made the comments while attending an inauguration ceremony for a new gas field in Iran.

"We are steadfastly standing before the world's powerful countries, the P5+1, resorting to logic and with God's assistance and grace, sooner or later we will reach a conclusion in the path of talks."

The comments from Rouhani come as US and Iranian diplomats continue talks in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The US side says despite the progress that's been made, the prospect of reaching a nuclear deal before the end of March deadline remains a big question mark.

White House spokesperson Josh Earnest:

"We are in a situation where we are at best, it's a 50-50 proposition that a deal will be completed before the end of March."

Iran and the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, are trying to negotiate a deal which will see Iran halt all its nuclear activities for 10 years in exchange for a gradual end to the current sanctions being imposed on Tehran.

A framework agreement is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month, with a full agreement scheduled to be finished by the end of June.

A failure to meet the time-frames would bring an end to an interim agreement reached last year.

This would result in a full-resumption of international sanctions on Iran.

Iran, in turn, would be free to resume all its enrichment activities it paused in exchange for the easing of sanctions last year.