Western sanctions have caused "agony and suffering" for Iranians, the Iranian president said here on Thursday.

"The unnecessary sanctions of the powers were the source of agony and suffering to our people, particularly to the working class," Hassan Rouhani said in remarks marking the International Labor Day.

"The Iranian government is determined to break the lock of sanctions" and turn the current year into "the year of economic growth," Rouhani was quoted as saying by semi-official Mehr news agency.

He said the Iranian government will try to open the world market to Iranian workers.

Iran has been subjected to substantive Western sanctions in the past few years over its controversial nuclear program.

An interim nuclear deal signed between Tehran and world powers last November provided some reprieve to the sanctions. Under the deal, Iran agreed to halt parts of its nuclear activities in return for a partial lifting of the sanctions.

In his remarks on Thursday, Rouhani also urged equal rights for men and women in the workplace, and promised to "seriously" consider better social security and housing benefits for the working class.