Iran should halt nuclear programme for 10 years: Obama

WASHINGTON: In an interview with Reuters news agency on Monday, US President Barak Obama said Iran must commit to verifiable halt of at least 10 years on sensitive nuclear work for a landmark atomic deal to be reached between Tehran and six major world powers.

Iran on Tuesday rejected as "unacceptable" a demand by U.S. President Barack Obama that Tehran freeze its sensitive nuclear activities for at least 10 years, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

"Obama’s stance ... is expressed in unacceptable and threatening phrases ... Iran will not accept excessive and illogical demands ... Tehran will continue nuclear negotiations with the six powers," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by Fars.