Iranian president opposes bill to suspend nuclear inspections

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said the move would be ‘harmful’ to diplomatic efforts Picture: AP

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has expressed his opposition to a bill approved by parliament to suspend UN inspections and boost uranium enrichment, saying it would be “harmful” to diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear deal and easing US sanctions.

The tug-of-war over the bill, which gained momentum after the killing of a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist last month, reflects the rivalry between Mr Rouhani, a relative moderate, and hard-line politicians who dominate parliament and favour a more confrontational approach to the West.