Tehran--Iran's parliament approved a bill Tuesday that lawmakers said would protect the country's nuclear programme, an intervention that comes as the government tries to seal a deal with world powers.
The move quickly exposed tension between President Hassan Rouhani's government and lawmakers in Tehran, where hardliners routinely voice doubts about the merit of talking to the West.
Rouhani's spokesman said the bill, which still has to be signed into law by Iran's Guardian Council, was unconstitutional.
The action in parliament, just one week before the nuclear deal deadline, is unlikely to immediately affect those talks but it could prove a complication after an accord is signed because the bill lays down terms for MPs' accepting its terms.
Rouhani, a moderate who aims to end Iran's diplomatic isolation, wants a deal to ensure the lifting of sanctions that have hobbled the economy.
However critics of his nuclear policy, including members of the conservative-dominated legislature, say too many concessions have been made.
The bill says the government must "preserve the country's nuclear rights and achievements", a reference to retaining the ability to enrich uranium and continuing to keep all its nuclear facilities open.
Such demands have already been enshrined in an outline agreement struck on April 2 between Iran and the P5+1 powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany.
But the bill, whose backers said it would protect Iran's negotiating team from further demands, goes further and says sanctions must be lifted "on the day Iran starts implementing its obligations".
The timing of removal has become important as members of the P5+1 have said it can only happen upon international verification that Iran has met requirements laid down under a deal.
Some 214 lawmakers out of 244 present supported the bill, with 10 against, six abstentions and the remainder not voting.
AFP
