Rouhani warns US against tearing up nuclear accord

06 August 2017

Reformist Rouhani was sworn in for his second presidential term on 5 August

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, sworn in for his second term in office on 5 August, has accused the United States of working to undermine the nuclear deal signed between Iran and a number of western powers in 2015.

Rouhani was elected to serve a second term following elections in May, at which he secured 57 per cent of the votes after beating hardliner Ebrahim Raisi.

Rouhani warned US President Donald Trump not to commit “political suicide” in his eagerness to tear up the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was signed in July 2015.

“We declare publicly that Iran will not initiate withdrawing from the JCPOA, but it would not keep calm against the US actions,” he said at his first public address under his second term as president. The event was attended by world leaders including EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini as well as Afghanistan’s president Ashraf Ghani.

“I am not addressing newcomers to the world of politics, but we tell veterans of this world that those who intend to tear up the JCPOA will tear apart their political career with such an action,” he said.

The US imposed fresh sanctions against Iran over its ballistic missile programme, and the Trump administration has become increasingly reluctant to accredit Iran’s compliance with the nuclear deal.

Iran, which is embarking on a programme of economic revival particularly in its energy industry, has become increasingly concerned about current US administration’s hardening of stance against Tehran.

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