Tehran Friday Prayers Leader:
Nuclear Deal Showed U.S. Not Trustworthy
TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Tehran’s interim Friday prayer leader says U.S. sanctions imposed against Iran following the conclusion of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and the world powers prove Washington is not trustworthy.
"This experience is enough and let’s not repeat the same experience, because the U.S. proved that it is our enemy and our diplomats say America does not fulfill its obligations,” Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Movahhedi-Kermani said.
"The sanctions were supposed to be lifted in six months. Not only have they not been removed, other sanctions were also added under the pretext of security issues,” he said.
Movahedi-Kermani added, "Washington says let us hold talks on the regional issues. It is strange! How can one hold dialogue with a party that does not hold on to its promises?”
Iran and the P5+1 signed the landmark JCPOA on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016. However, the U.S. has issued new unilateral sanctions against Iran over the country’s defensive missile program.
The Islamic Republic has slammed the new U.S. sanctions as illegal and pledged to deliver a "proportionate and reciprocal” response to the move.
Iran, along with five other Muslim-majority nations, has recently become the target of a travel ban by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Saudi Allegations
Elsewhere in his remarks, Movahedi-Kermani denounced the recent anti-Iran allegations by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister rejected Iranian calls for dialogue, saying Tehran was the main sponsor of terrorism in the world, a destabilizing force in the Middle East and wanted to "destroy us.”
"This person calls Iran the main sponsor of terrorism while his country has caused bloodbath in Yemen and is killing children on a daily basis,” Ayatollah Movahedi-Kermani said.
The cleric slammed Jubeir’s allegation that Iran sought to destroy Saudi Arabia and said, "You are the one who is destroying your country through oppression.”
Saudi Arabia has been leading a deadly military campaign against Yemen since March 2015. Latest tallies say some 12,000 civilians have been killed in attacks.
"This experience is enough and let’s not repeat the same experience, because the U.S. proved that it is our enemy and our diplomats say America does not fulfill its obligations,” Ayatollah Muhammad Ali Movahhedi-Kermani said.
"The sanctions were supposed to be lifted in six months. Not only have they not been removed, other sanctions were also added under the pretext of security issues,” he said.
Movahedi-Kermani added, "Washington says let us hold talks on the regional issues. It is strange! How can one hold dialogue with a party that does not hold on to its promises?”
Iran and the P5+1 signed the landmark JCPOA on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016. However, the U.S. has issued new unilateral sanctions against Iran over the country’s defensive missile program.
The Islamic Republic has slammed the new U.S. sanctions as illegal and pledged to deliver a "proportionate and reciprocal” response to the move.
Iran, along with five other Muslim-majority nations, has recently become the target of a travel ban by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Saudi Allegations
Elsewhere in his remarks, Movahedi-Kermani denounced the recent anti-Iran allegations by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister rejected Iranian calls for dialogue, saying Tehran was the main sponsor of terrorism in the world, a destabilizing force in the Middle East and wanted to "destroy us.”
"This person calls Iran the main sponsor of terrorism while his country has caused bloodbath in Yemen and is killing children on a daily basis,” Ayatollah Movahedi-Kermani said.
The cleric slammed Jubeir’s allegation that Iran sought to destroy Saudi Arabia and said, "You are the one who is destroying your country through oppression.”
Saudi Arabia has been leading a deadly military campaign against Yemen since March 2015. Latest tallies say some 12,000 civilians have been killed in attacks.