Without offering any revelations on details of the nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 Powers, President Rouhani has combined hope and challenge in his speech to the UN General Assembly — while he and Iran sought “compromise and agreement”, the Iranian people could not trust and work with those who persist with “conflict and sanctions”.

Rouhani set out Tehran’s general demand of “full nuclear rights on Iranian soil within the framework of international law”, while chiding “excessive demands by our counterparts”. He held out the promise of a final accord “as the beginning of collaboration aimed at promoting security, peace, and development” before he put out his warning:

He concluded, “Arriving at a final comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran will be a historic opportunity for West to show that it does not oppose advancement & development of others, & does not discriminate when it comes to adhering to international rules and regulations.”

Rouhani did not offer any suggestions on how to resolve specific issues such as the number and level of Iran’s centrifuges for uranium enrichment or the status of facilities such as the Arak heavy-water nuclear reactor.

Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, Britain, China, Germany, Russia, and France) are in the eighth day of their talks in New York, pursuing a comprehensive nuclear agreement before a November 24 deadline.