Rouhani opposes parliament vote on nuclear deal

TEHRAN, Iran: President Hassan Rouhani has opposed a parliamentary vote on the landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers, saying terms of the agreement will turn into legal obligation if it is passed by the house.

Rouhani said at a news conference Saturday that the deal was a political understanding reached with world powers, not a new pact that requires parliamentary approval.

A special committee of the parliament has already begun studying the deal before putting it to a vote. But the legality of such a move is in doubt because the government has not prepared a bill to parliament for vote on.

Rouhani said the Supreme National Security Council, the country's highest security decision-making body, is already studying the agreement.