Iran downplays sanctions on oil
TEHRAN, Oct 14, (Agencies): Iran’s president on Sunday tried to downplay US sanctions targeting the country’s vital oil and gas sector that are set to be restored next month.
Speaking in Tehran University to mark the start of the academic year, Hassan Rouhani said the Nov 4 sanctions “will have no effect,” because “the US has already done whatever it wanted to do.”
President Donald Trump’s administration has been steadily restoring sanctions on Iran
since he withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord in May. Iran has been grappling with an economic crisis in recent months, with its currency plunging to historic lows and sporadic protests breaking out.
The US has said it will press other countries to halt imports of Iranian oil, which would cut off a key source of revenue for Tehran.
Rouhani said the current US administration is the “most hostile” ever toward Iran, but that his country will overcome the sanctions through “unity and integrity.” He said his administration has allocated some $15 billion to purchase basic goods in the current Iranian year, which ends next March.
Rouhani said the US sanctions are aimed at “regime change.” The Trump administration insists its aim is not to overthrow the Iranian government, but to pressure it to radically alter its policies, including its development of ballistic missiles and support for regional militant groups.
Rouhani boasted that the United States has lost against the Islamic republic’s “righteousness and wisdom” by walking out of the landmark nuclear deal.
“Everyone knows that America has lost legally and politically by giving up on its international obligations and that we have achieved victory,” said Rouhani in a speech at the University of Tehran to mark the beginning of the school year.
“There are but a few countries in the world that would call the US withdrawal from the JCPOA (nuclear deal) a good move,” he added.
“Those that are cautious express disappointment, those that are more frank say it was a mistake, and the outspoken say it was illegal.”
The United States is seeking “regime change” in Iran, Rouhani said “There was a time when there was one person who had enmity. The rest were moderate. Now ... the worst have gathered around each other,” he added in a speech marking the beginning of the academic year at Tehran University.
Rouhani accused the Americans of using psychological and economic warfare and questioning the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic.
“Reducing the legitimacy of the system is their final goal. When they say getting rid of, regime change in their own words, how does regime change happen? Through reducing legitimacy, otherwise a regime doesn’t change,”