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Iran’s Rouhani tells critics: blame ‘oath-breaker’ US
TEHRAN, Jan 30, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani slammed
his critics on Wednesday, defending the political achievements of a landmark
2015 nuclear deal and calling the US an “oath-breaker”.
“One should not condemn the government or the great Islamic system instead
of America — this is the greatest damage that can be done,” he said on state
TV.
Hardliners have repeatedly hammered the 2015 nuclear deal with six world
powers since the early stages of negotiations, calling it a fool’s errand and
a deception.
They contend that Iran has gained nothing from the agreement despite
complying with its restrictions on the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme,
intensifying their criticism after Washington withdrew from the treaty last
year.
Speaking during an annual ceremony of allegiance to the late founder of
the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Rouhani said: “America has
not been an oath-breaker only to us, but also to Europe, China, NAFTA and the
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).”
President Donald Trump withdrew Washington from the deal — technically
called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — last May, reimposing
punishing sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Washington also withdrew from the TPP trade agreement in 2016, the Paris
Agreement on climate change control the next year and forced Canada and
Mexico to renegotiate and sign a new deal in 2018 replacing the North
American Free Trade Agreement.
The other parties to the Iran nuclear deal — Britain, China, France,
Germany and Russia along with the European Union — have insisted it remains
in force and is working.
Rouhani took another jab at opponents who have criticised Iranian
diplomats’ lack of foresight over not predicting the US withdrawal.
“No agreement is based on whether the other party remains, but the main
basis is the country’s interests,” he said.
He ended his speech by calling for “unity”, saying Khomeini’s main concern
was not foreign forces but domestic “discord”.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1630 hrs