Rouhani: US Will Regret Possible Exit of JCPOA
President Hassan Rouhani says the US will regret a possible withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal, assuring that Iran has plans in place to counter any fallout from the decision.
“If the United States opts to pull out of the JCPOA, you will soon see the historic remorse which the move will bring about for” Washington, Rouhani told a crowd in Sabzevar in northeast Iran on Sunday, according to Press TV..
The president said he had directed related bodies months before to devise necessary measures in response to US President Donald Trump’s threat to abandon the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“Orders have been issued to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and a few days ago, I spoke with senior officials of the organization about the programs ahead,” he said without elaboration.
The president hit out at “American and Zionist propaganda against the great and brave nation of Iran which has resisted all along during big and decisive times,” dismissing it all absurd and false.
Tehran to continue with its progress and development
“This nation is neither afraid nor has any fear from you. This great nation will continue with its progress and development on the side of its officials and the Leadership,” he said, addressing US leaders.
Trump has called the JCPOA, which was negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama, the “worst deal ever” and even threatened to tear it up.
He has given the European signatories until May 12 to fix what he has claimed “flaws” in the agreement or he would refuse to waive anti-Iran sanctions, which were lifted under the accord.
Iran insists there is no way it will renegotiate the multilateral nuclear pact, which was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231 in 2015.
Rouhani said, “We must know nothing will change in our lives next week.”
“Every decision that Trump takes, we have a plan and program to counter him and resist. Our nation is a free, brave, and persistent nation, and our enemies, God willing, will be brought to shame with their plots.”
“Our path is quite clear. The economic sector has also received the necessary orders,” Rouhani said.
Trump says the agreement does not address Iran’s missile capabilities as well as the country’s role in the Middle East, which the US and Israel view to their detriment. The Europeans say they have offered to include those issues in a supplementary package in order to keep the JCPOA intact.
Rouhani addressed the US and Europeans, saying Iran “is loyal to its promises but it is explicitly telling the whole world, Europe, America, the West and the East that we will not talk about our country’s weapons and defense with anyone.”
“We will build and store any amount of weapons and missiles needed by the country. It is none of anybody’s business what decision the Iranian people have made for their defense. We will not talk about the precision [of missiles] and defensive power with anyone,” he said.
Iran Seeks Restoring Security to the Middle East
As regards Iran’s role in the region, Rouhani said, Iran wants to talk to the rest of the world about restoring security to the Middle East.
“We are negotiating with Turkey and Russia about Syria. We are negotiating with different countries about Yemen, but we must tell the world that we will fight terrorism in every part of the region,” he said.
“We do not allow you to create a Daesh in this area every day and clash with the regional nations,” Rouhani said, addressing the US and its allies.
“We want peace and stability for the region. We tell the world we do not favor wars and tensions, but we are determined in defending our interests and we will stand against any conspiracy,” he added.
Iran vows to respond if US quits nuclear deal: Velayati
Meantime, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says if Americans opt to quit the nuclear deal signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, the Islamic Republic is ready to counter their measure in a proportionate manner.
Ali Akbar Velayati, the Leader’s senior advisor on international affairs, made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his visit to Tehran International Book Fair on Sunday, a few days ahead of a May 12 deadline set by US President Donald Trump to either scrap or uphold the multilateral nuclear pact, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Velayati said, “If Americans decide to withdraw from the JCPOA, the Islamic Republic of Iran will undoubtedly take measures proportionate to conditions that they want to impose and will make them regret [their decision].”
He added that Iran has an open hand to respond to any decision about the fate of the JCPOA, saying, “The Americans can test this issue.”
Iranian Armed Forces highly ready to defend Iran: Military chief
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri says the country’s Armed Forces are ready to deal with any possible threat posed by enemies of the Islamic Republic.
“At the present time, the Armed Forces are maintaining a high level of readiness to give a response to any threat and act of aggression by enemies of the Islamic Iran,” Baqeri said while addressing a gathering of military forces in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan Province on Sunday.
The senior military commander added that enemies of the Islamic Republic have been trying for the past four decades to deal a blow to the Islamic Revolution of Iran.
“The world-devouring America, the usurping Zionist regime [of Israel] and regional reactionary regimes have been trying to threaten and deal a blow to the Islamic Revolution of Iran for the past 40 years,” he said.
Baqeri emphasized that despite all their efforts, the enemies of Iran have not been able to deal even a slight blow to the Islamic Republic.
H.M