President Rouhani:
Nothing Will Change After Trump Leaves JCPOA
TEHRAN (Dispatches) -- President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday Iran had plans to respond to any move by U.S. President Donald Trump on the 2015 nuclear agreement and the United States would regret a decision to exit the accord.
Trump says that unless European allies rectify "flaws" in Tehran's deal with world powers by May 12 he will refuse to extend U.S. sanctions relief for Iran.
"We have plans to resist any decision by Trump on the nuclear accord," Rouhani told a crowd in Sabzevar in northeast Iran.
"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.
"Our path is quite clear. The economic sector has also received the necessary orders," Rouhani said.
He said if the United States opts to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), "you will soon see the historic remorse which the move will bring about for" Washington.
The president hit out at the "American and Zionist propaganda against the great and brave nation of Iran which has resisted all along during big and decisive moments," dismissing it all absurd and false.
"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 U.S. leaders.
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 that 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."
Trump says the agreement does not address Iran's missile capabilities as well as the country's role in the Middle East, which the U.S. and the occupying regime of 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 U.S. 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 our defensive power with anyone," he said.
"We want to preserve our peaceful nuclear technology for electricity, medicine, agriculture and health... and we do not seek to threaten the world or the region," Rouhani said.
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 will not allow you to create a Daesh in this area every day and clash with the regional nations," Rouhani said, addressing the U.S. 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.
Trump says that unless European allies rectify "flaws" in Tehran's deal with world powers by May 12 he will refuse to extend U.S. sanctions relief for Iran.
"We have plans to resist any decision by Trump on the nuclear accord," Rouhani told a crowd in Sabzevar in northeast Iran.
"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.
"Our path is quite clear. The economic sector has also received the necessary orders," Rouhani said.
He said if the United States opts to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), "you will soon see the historic remorse which the move will bring about for" Washington.
The president hit out at the "American and Zionist propaganda against the great and brave nation of Iran which has resisted all along during big and decisive moments," dismissing it all absurd and false.
"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 U.S. leaders.
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 that 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."
Trump says the agreement does not address Iran's missile capabilities as well as the country's role in the Middle East, which the U.S. and the occupying regime of 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 U.S. 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 our defensive power with anyone," he said.
"We want to preserve our peaceful nuclear technology for electricity, medicine, agriculture and health... and we do not seek to threaten the world or the region," Rouhani said.
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 will not allow you to create a Daesh in this area every day and clash with the regional nations," Rouhani said, addressing the U.S. 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.