Rowhani hopes for accord between Iran and world powers

President-elect Hassan Rowhani expressed hope Monday that Iran can reach a new agreement with the international powers over its nuclear programme, saying such a deal should be reached through more transparency and mutual trust. Rowhani, a moderate cleric who was declared winner of Iran's presidential election on Saturday, ending eight years of conservative rule, also described as unfair and unjustified sanctions imposed against the Islamic republic over the nuclear issue. The 64-year-old's victory raised hopes of an easing of strained ties with Western nations, but he used his first news conference on Monday to rule out a halt to his country's controversial enrichment of uranium.