TEHRAN - Tehran interim Friday prayers leader Ayatollah Seyed Ahmad Khatami has expressed gratitude to President Hassan Rouhani and his nuclear negotiation team for their efforts during the course of the talks with world powers that culminated in the July 14 agreement.

“These dear people set out with good will and started a difficult task. They are fighters in the diplomatic front,” Ayatollah Khatami said Friday, Mehr news agency reported.

The ayatollah echoed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s remarks urging all Iranians to refrain from hasty judgements and wait for the nuclear deal to be evaluated through legal procedures.

He also warned that the nuclear issue should not be used as a tool by political parties to pursue their ambitions.

“This is a national case. We must be fair in our criticism and help it bear fruit,” he stated.

SP/OS