国际英语新闻:Iran to agree on extension of nuclear talks "if rights respected": Rouhani

TEHRAN, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Iran will agree on an extension of the nuclear talks for another period of time, if the world powers respect Iran's nuclear rights, President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday.

"To build confidence and to be transparent, we have been and will be flexible in the nuclear talks. But we will not slacken over the nuclear rights of the Iranian nation," Rouhani was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

"If the other side shows a respect to Iranians' rights within the international framework, we will continue the negotiations and extend its duration if necessary," he said, as Iran and the world powers could not agree on a comprehensive deal over Iran's nuclear issue after over two weeks of intensive talks in Vienna.

The Iranian president rejected the idea that Tehran has come to the negotiation table under the sanction pressures. "It is clear for everybody that we are negotiating for the peace and stability of the region and for the good of the world," he said.

"We have never been afraid of sanctions ... and we hope that the other side has understood this fact," he added.

Under the interim deal agreed in Geneva last November, Iran agreed to suspend some sensitive nuclear activities in exchange for a limited sanction relief in six months till July 20, to buy time for more diplomatic efforts.

The West wants Iran to significantly scale back its nuclear program in case of a proliferation risk, while Iran insists its nuclear right is inalienable.