Iranian President Hassan Rohani has said that Tehran will not abandon its nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment.

Iran’s ISNA news agency quotes Rohani as telling the conservative-dominated parliament on November 10 that there are “red lines” that must not be crossed. These include, he said, Tehran’s right to enrich uranium on Iranian soil.

Rohani made the remarks a day after international talks in Geneva on Iran’s nuclear program ended without a deal.

Iran and six of the world’s most-powerful countries, including Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany, are expected to meet again on November 20.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the latest round of Geneva talks had made progress, but he warned that the window for diplomacy would not stay open indefinitely.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said no agreement was reached because some questions still need to be resolved.

No details were immediately available on the remaining issues. But Fabius had earlier suggested France wanted guarantees of tougher controls on Iran’s activities involving plutonium and uranium enrichment.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif described the talks as “very good” and as something negotiators can build on.

He said some disagreements among the parties were to be expected, and said he was not discouraged by the failure to reach a deal.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
RFE/RL