Iran nuclear deal: Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei backs parliamentary vote on historic agreement

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has backed a parliamentary vote on a nuclear deal for the country. He also said the sanctions imposed on the country by the UN in 2006 should be lifted, rather than just suspended.

Khamenei said: "The parliament should not be sidelined on the nuclear deal issue... I am not saying lawmakers should approve the deal or reject it. It is up to them to decide."

He added that co-operation with the US is based only on this specific agreement, noting: "Our officials only discuss the nuclear deal with America ... We will never support America's policies on Syria and Iraq."

On 14 July, Iran came to a conditional agreement with the P5+1 group – comprising United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany – that would see Iran significantly reduce its nuclear programme and agreeing to the UN arms embargo in exchange for the suspension of economic sanctions, which prevent Iran from trading with many major economies.

The backing of Iran's Khamenei comes just a day after US President Barack Obama officially received the 34 votes in the Senate to overrule a possible Republican-led resolution against the nuclear deal.

On 2 September, Democratic senator Barbara Mikulski, the longest-serving female senator in history, announced her support for the deal on 2 September.

Her support means Obama has 34 senate votes in favour, allowing him to sustain a veto in case the Republicans decide to launch a congressional resolution to disapprove of the deal.

Mikulski stated she thought the deal was far from perfect, but said: "I have concluded that this Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is the best option available to block Iran from having a nuclear bomb. For these reasons, I will vote in favour of this deal."