US President Barack Obama expressed optimism that major world powers and Iran could finalise a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme despite strong words this week from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
At the Americas summit in Panama on Saturday, Obama said he was not surprised at the way Khamenei characterised the framework agreement, explaining that Iran has its own politics on the issue and "hardliners" who need to be satisfied, the New York Times reported on Sunday.
Obama said at a news conference that there might be ways to structure a final nuclear deal that achieves the core objectives while satisfying Iran's "pride".
