Iran Ready for 'Serious' Nuclear Talks Says President Rouhani

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has said that Teheran is poised for "serious" negotiations with the international community over its nuclear programme.

At his first news conference since his inauguration, Rouhani, who succeeded hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said a solution could be reached only with "talks, not threats".

However the newly-elected president also remarked on the importance of Iran's peaceful nuclear programme, saying that "we will not give up the rights of the Iranian people".

"We will preserve our rights based on the international regulations," he added in reference to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, of which Iran is a signatory.

"As the president of the Islamic republic, I am announcing that there is political will to solve this issue and also take into consideration the concerns of the other sides."

"We are ready - seriously and without wasting time - to engage in serious and substantive talks with the other sides," the Iranian president said. "I am certain the concerns of the two sides would be removed through talks in a short period of time.

"However, demands outside any legal framework or illogical and outdated demands will not be useful. We should deal with the issue through a realistic approach."

According to Rouhani, Washington still has an unclear understanding of what was happening in Iran.

"[Washington's] behaviour and words are contradictory. And the messages, in words and action, are contradictory too," he said.

The US declared that the figure of Rouhani represents an opportunity for Iran to solve the world's "deep concerns" and that it would be a "willing partner" if Iran was consistent with its claims of peace deals.

"Should this new government choose to engage substantively and seriously to meet its international obligations and find a peaceful solution to this issue, it will find a willing partner in the United States," it added.

The news comes just days after it was announced that Iran had activated 5,000 new centrifuges as part of its nuclear programme.