Iran blasts ‘misbehaving’ US

Washington accused of trying to overthrow Rouhani’s govt

New York: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused the United States of trying to overthrow his government, rejecting bilateral talks after President Donald Trump denounced Iran’s leaders and predicted stepped-up US sanctions would get Teheran to negotiate over its nuclear programme.

Addressing world leaders at the UN General Assembly, Rouhani accused the Trump administration of violating the rules of international law and “state obligations” from the Obama administration by withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran signed with the US and five other major powers.

“On what basis and criteria can we enter into an agreement with an administration misbehaving such as this?” Rouhani asked.

“It is ironic that the US government does not even conceal its plan for overthrowing the same government it invites to talks.”

Rouhani invited the US to come back to negotiations within the UN Security Council, which endorsed the nuclear deal.

There, he said, both sides can listen to each other.

“Beginning the dialogue starts with ending threats and unjust sanctions that negate the principles of ethics and international law,” he said.

“What Iran says is clear: no war, no sanctions, no threats, no bullying. Just acting according to the law and the fulfilment of obligations.”

In his General Assembly speech, Rouhani targeted Trump in language if not directly in name.

“The United States’ understanding of international relations is authoritarian,” he said.

“In its estimation, might makes right.” Rouhani condemned “recklessness and disregard of some states for international values and institutions”.

He laid into leaders who believe they can “ride public sentiments and gain popular support through the fomenting of extremist nationalism and racism” and through what he called “xenophobic tendencies resembling a Nazi disposition”.

Trump, in his own speech, said Americans “reject the ideology of globalism” in favour of what he called “the doctrine of patriotism”.

He also blasted what he called Iran’s “corrupt dictatorship” and said its leaders “sow chaos, death and destruction” and “spread mayhem across the Middle East and far beyond”.

Beginning the dialogue starts with ending threats and unjust sanctions that negate the principles of ethics and international law. Hassan Rouhani