Iran will ‘confront America’s plots’ if it leaves nuclear deal
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said yesterday that if the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, Washington would regret it “like never before”.
Mr Rouhani said Iran had a response ready if US President Donald Trump decides to leave the deal signed in July 2015.
“Orders have been issued to our Atomic Energy Organisation and to the economic sector to confront America’s plots against our country,” he said in a televised speech.
Mr Trump has said that unless European allies rectify flaws in the agreement he will refuse to extend US sanctions relief for Iran. The US has set a deadline of Saturday.
Britain, France and Germany are committed to the nuclear accord but, in an effort to keep Washington in, they want talks with Iran on its ballistic missile programme, nuclear activities beyond the expiration date of 2025, and its role in Middle East crises such as Syria and Yemen.
“We will not negotiate with anyone about our weapons and defences, and we will make and store as many weapons, facilities and missiles as we need,” Mr Rouhani said.
Yesterday, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson flew to Washington for talks with the Trump government aimed at preserving the deal. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have also called on the US leader to stick to the agreement.
The Foreign Office said Mr Johnson was expected to meet Vice President Mike Pence, National Security Adviser John Bolton and other senior government officials and congressional foreign policy leaders.
Israel last week presented what it said was new evidence of a secret nuclear weapons programme by Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an opponent of the nuclear deal, arguing that it allows Iran to boost its presence on Israel’s borders in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza.
European countries said Mr Netanyahu’s presentation only reinforced the importance of the agreement, which provides for inspections.
Yesterday, he accused Iran of supplying advanced weapons to Syria, posing a danger to Israel, and said it was better to confront Tehran.
Israel has repeatedly said it will not tolerate a lasting Iranian military presence in Syria, and is believed to have been behind recent air strikes on military bases there that killed Iranian soldiers, prompting Tehran to vow revenge. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.
Mr Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet yesterday that Iran had delivered advanced weapons to Syria “to attack us on the battlefield and on the home front”.
“We are determined to block Iran’s aggression against us even if this means a struggle. Better now than later,” he said. “We do not want escalation but we are prepared for any scenario.” Israel is thought to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East but has never publicly disclosed its arsenal.