Iran forswears nuclear arms, says president

New leader's conciliatory comments intrigue a wary West and its allies

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that his government would never develop nuclear weapons, his strongest signal yet that he may be seeking a diplomatic thaw with the West after decades of acrimony.

In an interview with NBC News days before he travels to New York for a United Nations appearance, the new Iranian president also insisted he had "complete authority" to negotiate a nuclear deal with the United States and other Western powers.