Iranian President Hassan Rouhani moved Thursday to dispel concerns voiced by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over Iran's landmark nuclear deal, insisting Tehran would carry out its obligations while monitoring the actions of world powers.

In a letter to the president on Wednesday, Supreme Leader Khamenei for the first time endorsed the accord Tehran struck in July with world powers, but warned that Iran must guard against weakness in carrying out its provisions.

The agreement with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany will see a raft of trade sanctions against Iran lifted in return for curbs lasting up to 15 years on its atomic activities.

Rouhani acknowledged support from Khamenei, who has the last word on Tehran's policy matters, and assured the leader of the benefits of the deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran's government will act to thoroughly implement the JCPOA, while observing his Honourable considerations and the ratifications of the Supreme National Security Council," the president said.

Khamenei said he approved the decision of the country's top security committee, the SNSC, to implement the agreement.

"The other sides' actions to fulfil their commitments will be vigilantly monitored and a proper decision will be made by the SNSC," he assured, in case any of the six powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- breached the accord.

The US and European Union have adopted measures to lift sanctions on Iran, and Tehran is preparing to limit its atomic programme.

However, according to the leader's order, Iran is holding back on some of its commitments until the UN nuclear watchdog announces that Tehran's past and current atomic activities are clean.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has until December 15 to issue its report on Iran's nuclear programme.

Rouhani said Khamenei's "confirmation, along with the conditions you set... would open a new chapter" in Iran's path to progress.

In his letter, Khamenei warned the deal had "many ambiguities and structural weak points" which must be closely monitored.

Russia questions US claims over Iran missile test
United Nations, United States (AFP) Oct 22, 2015 - Russia's UN envoy on Thursday questioned US and European claims that Iran's recent missile test violated UN resolutions, saying the test-launch should not be treated as a "sensational" issue.

Britain, France, Germany and the United States on Wednesday asked a UN Security Council sanctions committee to investigate the October 10 test-launch of a medium-range missile, calling it a serious violation.

But Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin indicated that Moscow had made no such determination.

"I think we need to be very careful about these things," Churkin told reporters.

"We need to look into technical details and then of course take into account the political circumstances," he added.

"One has to be professional about it. It's not a sensational kind of issue."

US Ambassador Samantha Power told the council that the medium-range ballistic missile was capable of delivering a nuclear weapon.

Power called it a "provocative launch" and said the "United States considers it to be a serious matter" that undermines regional stability.

The four countries presented a report to the sanctions committee making the case that the missile test was a "serious violation" and requesting "appropriate action", according to a joint letter.

The request to the committee marks a first step toward possible sanctions, although such a decision would require agreement from China and Russia.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Jieyi also declined to endorse the US and European view that the missile test violated UN resolutions.

"We are looking at this. We will discuss it at the council," said Liu.

The four countries took part along with China and Russia in successful negotiations to reach a historic deal with Iran in July that calls for lifting sanctions in exchange for curbs on Tehran's nuclear program.

They maintain that the missile test violates Security Council resolution 1929, which was adopted in 2010.

That resolution prohibits Tehran from conducting launches of ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

Iran on Saturday denied that the missile launch was in violation of UN resolutions, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying that it was not designed to carry nuclear warheads.

Iran insists it has no plans to develop atomic weapons.