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News ID: 45447
Publish Date : 18 October 2017 - 21:00
Europe Must Avoid Meddling in Iran’s Defense Affairs

Leader: If U.S. Tears Up JCPOA, Iran Will Shred It




TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday Iran would stick to its 2015 nuclear accord with world powers as long as the other signatories respected it, but would "shred" the deal if Washington pulled out.
Ayatollah Khamenei spoke five days after U.S. President Donald Trump adopted a harsh new approach to Iran by refusing to certify its compliance with the deal, reached under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, and saying he might ultimately terminate it.
"The JCPOA serves their interests, but we will not tear up the deal before the other party does. If they tear up the JCPOA, we will shred it," the Leader said in a speech to students here, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
In a major shift in U.S. policy, Trump said Washington would take a more confrontational approach to Iran over its ballistic missile program and its support for resistance groups fighting terrorists and the Zionist regime of Israel in the Middle East.
"I don't want to waste my time on answering the rants and whoppers of the brute (U.S.) president," Ayatollah Khamenei said on Wednesday.
"Trump's stupidity should not distract us from the mischief of the U.S. regime.  Everyone should know that once again America will receive a slap in its mouth and will be defeated by Iranians."
Trump's move put Washington at odds with other parties to the accord - Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union - who say Washington cannot unilaterally cancel an international accord enshrined by a UN resolution.
Ayatollah Khamenei welcomed European support but said it was not sufficient.
"European states stressed their backing for the deal and condemned Trump ... We welcomed this, but it is not enough to ask Trump not to rip up the agreement. Europe needs to stand against practical measures (taken) by America."
Under the deal, Iran agreed to curb its uranium enrichment program in return for relief from sanctions, and UN nuclear inspectors have repeatedly certified Tehran's compliance with the terms.
In "decertifying” the nuclear deal last week, Trump gave the U.S. Congress 60 days to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions on Tehran that were lifted under the pact.
Tehran has repeatedly pledged to continue its defensive missile capability in defiance of Western criticism. The United States has claimed Iran's missile program violates the 2015 deal in spirit.
Iran has said it seeks only civilian nuclear energy from its enrichment of uranium, and that the program has nothing to do with missile development efforts.
EU foreign ministers on Monday urged U.S. lawmakers not to reimpose sanctions on Tehran but also discussed Iran's missile program, which they want to see dismantled.
"They must avoid interfering in our defense program ... We do not accept that Europe sings along with America's bullying and its unreasonable demands," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
"They (Europeans) ask why Iran has missiles. Why do you have missiles yourselves? Why do you have nuclear weapons?"
The Trump administration has imposed new unilateral sanctions targeting Iran's missile activity which is an essential precautionary defense against the United States and other adversaries.
"Americans are angry because the Islamic Republic of Iran has managed to thwart their plots in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and other countries in the region," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
Iran, the Leader said, has managed to stand against "U.S. hegemony” and make progress under pressure and sanctions. Washington’s anger, he said, stems from the Islamic Republic’s strong role in the fight against the Daesh terror group.
"The U.S. is the agent of the international Zionism; the U.S. is the creator of Daesh and the Takfiri current. Do you expect the U.S. not to be angry with the very force which is standing against Daesh?”
Supporters of the deal fear Trump's decision to decertify the deal could eventually unravel it, causing more tension in the crisis-hit Middle East.