US hostility to Tehran ‘growing daily’ after deal

America accused of putting brakes on Iran’s progress

TEHRAN // American hostility towards Iran is growing daily despite the nuclear deal with Tehran that came into effect a year ago, a senior Iranian official said yesterday.

“The United States has done whatever it can to slow down Iran’s progress” after the deal, said deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi, the chief Iranian negotiator. “In the past 12 months, we have witnessed delays and the disrespecting of promises by the US and some countries. Their hostility increases by the day,” Mr Araqchi said.

The agreement between Tehran and six world powers led international sanctions to be lifted in exchange for limits on Iran’s nuclear programme.

The country has reported a rise in oil exports and increased investment in manufacturing since the deal came into force on January 16 last year.

But Iranian officials have accused Washington of failing to abide by the agreement, including the imposition of a raft of other sanctions related to non- nuclear issues that have helped to deter major western banks from returning to Iran.

The US president-elect Donald Trump vowed during last year’s campaign to tear up the agreement.

Mr Araqchi said it made little difference who was in the White House because international law required Washington to implement the deal. “Whether it’s Obama or Trump, the US president is committed to cancelling laws that are against it,” he said, adding that there would be no further talks with US officials.

“Our nuclear negotiations with the Americans are finalised and we have no other political talks with them,” Mr Araqchi said.

Analysts said it was unlikely the Trump team would totally dismantle the agreement, which he described as “the worst deal ever negotiated”. But Mr Trump’s appointments have signalled he is likely to take a hard line on Tehran. In confirmation hearings ahead of his inauguration on Friday, several of his nominees made clear their opposition to a further strengthening of ties with Tehran.

Secretary of state nominee Rex Tillerson said he would recommend a “full review” of the nuclear agreement.

Defence secretary pick James Mattis said Washington needed to live up to its word on the accord, but also described Iran as “the biggest destabilising force in the Middle East”.

“Some of the people who are taking office have a long history of being against Iran,” said Foad Izadi, a professor of international studies at Tehran University. “We are going to see a harsher policy towards Iran.”

Nasser Hadian, another professor of international relations at Tehran University, said it was unlikely the Trump team would scrap the agreement, but would probably impose more sanctions over Tehran’s human rights record, ballistic missile programme and support for terrorism in the Middle East. That may be bad news for president Hassan Rouhani, who is hoping to play up the agreement and the end of Iran’s international isolation as he seeks re-election in May.