Iranian President:Even an hour’s delay is not good for lifting US sanctions

TEHRAN, (ST)_ Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has affirmed that delay is not good even for one hour for lifting sanctions, adding that the people have the right to get rid of sanctions and the burden they shoulder under sanctions.

During a meeting held in the cabinet on Wednesday, Rouhani said that the rights of the people are being violated by sanctions when a bullying power does not allow Iran to get back its  money from export of goods, according to IRNA.

The Iranian president recalled guidelines of the Supreme Leader to focus on the domestic economy and the “Resistance Economy” to avert hardship imposed on people by the sanctions.

“The sanctions violate basic human rights of the people, and life under sanctions and isolation is harmful,” he said..

Rouhani  went on to say: “The US rhetoric has changed and they have admitted wrong decisions by the previous US administration and even canceled a letter to the UN demanding snapback to the sanctions lifted by the UN Security Council Resolution 2231… Washington, however, has taken no serious step to lift the unilateral sanctions and has recognized Iranian nation’s rights.”

He underscored that if the seven states parties to the JCPOA have a resolve for compliance to the JCPOA, especially Iran and the US, it would be a matter of a few days for the US to lift sanctions and for Iran to return to full compliance with the deal.

President Rouhani said that former US President Donald Trump failed totally in his policy towards Iran  and he made not even a  single win. “That was a trap laid by Israel”.

‘Does the current US administration admit that the measures by their predecessor were wrong? If yes, then they should both admit evidently and fulfill their commitments and even compensate for their mistakes,’ Rouhani added.

He underlined that this is exactly what Iranian officials say when talking to Europeans who insist on the revival of the JCPOA.

Describing the JCPOA as one of the most important political deals in Iran’s history, Rouhani said that the deal legitimized Iran’s peaceful use of nuclear energy that was previously a source of pressure on the country.

Referring to the countries remaining in the JCPOA as 4+1, the president emphasized that they have to admit that Iran stood up to the Economic War for three years and it was Iran that saved the deal. Therefore, he added, they have to abide by the law.

Meanwhile, he asked Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council to pass the law approving FATF bills, elaborating that the FATF-related discussions have nothing to do with sanctions.

Edited by: Basma Qaddour