Rouhani optimistic about Iran nuclear deal

NEW YORK, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday an agreement on Iran's nuclear policy can be achieved before the November deadline.

"I do believe we can reach an agreement in the next two months," Hassan Rouhani said in New York, where he will attend the United Nations General Assembly. He acknowledged there are still "differences of opinion on the timeframe and the execution."

Delegates from Iran and the P5+1 countries -- the United Kingdom, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany -- are negotiating a reduction in Iran's nuclear program in exchange for removal of economic sanctions on Iran. Their self-imposed deadline is in two months, and talks have stalled over the amount of Iran's uranium-enrichment capability, among other issues.

Rouhani also commented on the militant Islamic State, currently occupying much of Syria and Iraq and enduring a bombardment by U.S.-led forces that include the air forces of five Arab nations. He condemned IS, noting "they torture and decapitate," but ruled out any involvement by Iran to defeat them without U.N. endorsement or explicit invitation to intervene by an affected government.