CRI听力:Iranian Leader Stops Short of Endorsing Nuclear Deal

Iran's Supreme Leader has stopped short of giving his endorsement to the framework nuclear deal struck last week between Tehran and world powers.

In his first public comments on the interim agreement, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he is "neither for nor against" the deal.

"Some people congratulate me, or others, but this is meaningless. What congratulations? What has happened so far neither guarantees a deal - or talks leading to a deal, nor does it guarantee the content of a deal. It guarantees none. It doesn't even guarantee the talks will go on till the end and will lead to a deal."

In making the statement, Khamenei is demanding all the current sanctions on Iran be lifted.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also says the sanctions must be lifted as soon as a final deal is implemented.

The US side is holding to its position that the sanctions will be removed gradually.

US State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke.

"Under the agreed-upon parameters, sanctions will be suspended in a phased manner upon verification that Iran has met specific commitments under a finalized joint comprehensive plan of action. The process of sanctions suspension or relief will only begin after Iran has completed its major nuclear steps and the breakout time has been increased to at least a year. So that's consistent with what we said over the last week or so, and that was agreed upon by -- by all the parties in Lausanne."

Last week's preliminary deal stipulates Iran must slash its stockpile of enriched uranium and cut the number of its centrifuges by at least two-thirds.

In return, the international sanctions currently being imposed on Tehran will be lifted, as soon as the United Nations confirms Iran's compliance.

The deal is being celebrated by many in Iran.

However, it's being dismissed by hardliners who contend Iran has surrendered too much in exchange for too little.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, are preparing to resume negotiations with Iran to try to hammer out a final deal by the end of June.