Rouhani: Iran will 'bring America to its knees'
Iranians must unite in the face of American pressure in order to “bring America to its knees,” said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani On Wednesday, June 27, during a state television broadcast.
"We will cope with the problems. We will exert pressure. But we will not sacrifice our independence,” said Rouhani, whose was quoted by Reuters.
Rouhani made these statements against the backdrop of the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal, which took place on May 8. Before that, U.S. President Donald Trump had repeatedly criticized the agreement, calling it the worst deal ever.
The nuclear agreement, called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed by Iran and the Group of Six (Germany, Russia, Great Britain, China, the United States and France) in 2015. After the U.S. withdrew from the deal, the other members of the JCPOA, refusing to support Washington’s decision, declared their commitment to the deal.
In late May, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promised to introduce the most serious sanctions that have ever been imposed against Tehran. At the same time, he laid down 12 conditions to Iran which would have to be included in the new agreement in order for the U.S. to remain in it.
Last week, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs, Abbas Araghchi, said that Tehran would withdraw from the deal if the remaining parties to the treaty could not compensate for the absence of the United States. “We do not care how Europeans protect their companies, but it’s important for us that their companies work with us. It is necessary that Iranian oil be sold and that money be returned, that is, bank transactions must be carried out. How they will provide such conditions is the business of Europeans,” the Iranian diplomat then said.