Briefly

IRAN

Teheran still ready for talks with Washington

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Iran is still ready for nuclear talks on condition that the United States first lifts "unlawful" sanctions. "If they are prepared to put aside the sanctions, we are ready to talk and negotiate, even at the level of heads of the 5+1 countries," Rouhani said in remarks aired live on state television. Rouhani has long demanded the lifting of US sanctions for Iran's return to talks under the auspices of the so-called P5+1－the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany that reached the 2015 nuclear deal. The deal gave Iran relief from economic sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear program. It has been at risk of falling apart since US President Donald Trump withdrew from it in May last year and reimposed sanctions on Iran.