Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has criticized opponents of a nuclear deal struck with world powers in his country.

According to the Associated Press, a report Thursday, Jan 16, by the semi-official ISNA news agency quoted Rouhani as telling oil workers in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan: "A group does not want sanctions to be lifted. They are opponents because of their personal interests."

Rouhani did not elaborate. However, hard-liners claim the deal tramples on Iran's enrichment rights.

Last week, the so-called P5+1 world powers — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — and Iran agreed to make Monday the start of implementing the terms of the Geneva deal struck in November.

Under the deal, Iran agreed to cap its uranium enrichment in return for some sanctions relief from the West.