Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that his country will stand up to the United States and reciprocate for any new sanctions that Washington imposes on the Islamic republic.
The new sanctions, perceived as the latest attempt to clamp down on Iran’s military financing, target 18 Iranian individuals and groups, ranging from an Iran-based company accused of aiding the country’s drone program to a Turkey-based provider of naval equipment and a China-based network that helped secure electronics for Tehran.
We will have an appropriate answer
If Washington, under any pretext, imposes new sanctions against Iran, “we will stand up to the United States,” Mr. Rouhani said, adding that the “great nation of Iran will have an appropriate answer” and that the Iranian parliament will also act.
Mr. Rouhani, a 68-year-old cleric and political moderate who secured a resounding reelection over a hardline opponent in May, has been increasingly outspoken against the U.S., calling relations with Washington “a curvy road” even as he touts the 2015 nuclear accord.
The Trump administration on Monday confirmed that Iran had met its obligations under the nuclear deal but warned it would face consequences for breaching “the spirit” of the accord -- a reference to Iran’s continued pursuit of a ballistic missile program.
Sees a plot
Mr. Rouhani speculated that such statements seek to dissuade Iran from continuing to comply with the nuclear deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency has verified that Iran has lived up to its nuclear commitments.
“This plot will never succeed,” he added. “We will always remain loyal to our international commitments.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry in a statement Tuesday condemned the latest U.S. sanctions, calling them "mean and pointless," and said it will retaliate with sanctions on more Americans.
Iran in April and May imposed reciprocal sanctions on dozens of American companies and individuals, alleging they support terrorism and repression against people in the region such as the Palestinians.
