Iran's president said Sunday his country's nuclear deal with the West would create better prospects for faster solutions in Syria and Yemen, two of the Middle East's worst conflict zones.

In a live appearance on state television, Hassan Rouhani said the July 14 agreement had shown diplomacy and engagement were the only way to solve serious political problems and end crises.

"The final solution in Yemen is political, in Syria the final solution is political," he said. "The agreement will create a new atmosphere. The climate will be easier."

The near two years of talks between Iran and six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany -- was a "Herculean task" but was worth it, Rouhani argued.

"I was never despondent," he said of the talks which seemed to be faltering at numerous stages, with negotiators at loggerheads over the terms of the deal.

"Not for a single second did I doubt our success," he said, noting that "interaction" had triumphed over possible confrontation and surrender, neither of which "held much water" as options.

Under the agreement, Iran will curb some but not all aspects of its nuclear programme in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions that have pulverised its economy in recent years.

But Iran remains at odds with the West over Syria and Yemen.

Tehran backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has sent money and military advisers to aid his fight against Sunni rebels seeking to topple his regime.

And in Yemen, a Saudi-led air campaign against Iran-backed Shiite Huthi rebels has been heavily opposed in Tehran, leading to a near collapse of its ties with Riyadh.

The kingdom accuses Iran of meddling in Arab states, including Yemen which is majority Sunni, and Bahrain, a Sunni monarchy with a Shiite majority.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, the chief American negotiator in the Iran nuclear talks, sought to assure Middle East allies Sunday that the deal would make them safer, as he began a regional tour in Egypt and later flew to Qatar.

Iran bans newspaper of nuclear deal critic, warns others
Tehran (AFP) Aug 3, 2015 - Iran banned a weekly newspaper owned by a critic of its nuclear deal Monday and issued a formal warning to the country's leading conservative daily for alleged breaches of reporting guidelines.

The penalties were the first issued by the government since new guidance on media coverage of the historic accord was issued last week, underscoring sensitivity about the nuclear issue in Tehran.

The Press Supervisory Board banned "9th Dey Weekly", managed by ultra-conservative lawmaker Hamid Rasaie and named after the Persian calendar date of a major pro-government rally on December 30, 2009.

It also gave warning notices to the Kayhan daily and another outlet, the Raja news website.

All are alleged to have insulted Iranian officials as well as violating orders on coverage of the deal issued by the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).

The SNSC is the country's highest security committee and it oversees the nuclear talks under the auspices of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On July 14, Iran and the United States along with Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany reached an agreement to end the nuclear dispute with Iran.

Under the deal Iran has agreed to curbs on some of its nuclear activities in exchange for a lifting of international sanctions imposed in recent years.

Iran has always denied Western allegations that it aims to develop an atomic weapon and says its nuclear programme is for peaceful energy production.

The official IRNA news agency reported the media ban and warnings. Quoting the Press Supervisory Board it urged domestic media to consider "national interests and security and carry out criticism in the framework of responsible freedom".

"If anyone was to make comments against our national interests on a subject that is tied with our national security, it should definitely be stopped," said Hossein Noushabadi, a culture ministry spokesman.

The nuclear agreement is "an important matter that was achieved under the supervision of the supreme leader... and cannot be easily criticised with unjust comments," he added.

Rasaie said he was disappointed by the suspension.

"The banning of 9th Dey Weekly under (President Hassan) Rouhani's government is no strange news," the lawmaker wrote on his Instagram page.

It is the third time the publication has been banned over its coverage of the nuclear issue.

On the two previous occasions -- after an interim agreement in November 2013 and then again earlier this year -- the ruling was overturned.

"This government has proven much less tolerant of criticism than it claims," Rasaie said.

Conservative media in Iran have poured scorn on the deal.