Rohani: Iran ready to conclude final, comprehensive nuclear deal

Iranian President Hassan Rohani said Tuesday Tehran was ready to conclude a final and comprehensive agreement over its nuclear program if the West showed geniune will. "Iran does not want more than its rights in the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT), and it is ready to reach a final and comprehensive agreement in a short period if the other side has the will to do so," Rohani said during a meeting with a delegation of the Elders Foundation, lead by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Created by late South African President Nelson Mandela, the Elders Foundation seeks settlement of conflicts around the world. Annan is accompanied by former Finnish and Mexican Presidents, Martti Ahtisaari and Ernesto Zedillo respectively, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Rohani said the Middle East was suffering from violence, extremism and terrorism. He said "war and killing in Syria hurts every human being." Rohani called for cessation of hostilities in the troubled Arab country as well as sending relief aid for the Syrian people inside the country or in neighboring nations. Annan, for his part, commended Iran's strategic role in the region. "The world has to find a political solution for the Syrian crisis and stop the killings," he said, "therefore the Security Council and the UN and Syria's neighboring countries should play a vital role in this regard."