Comments made by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani indicate that the Islamic Republic may ignore the agreement made with the US-led global powers and openly continue its nuclear enrichment program.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened on Thursday to cancel the Iran nuclear deal if economic sanctions on the Islamic Republic are not removed, the Washington Free Beacon reported.
The US had stated that the sanctions would remain intact if Tehran continues its global terror activity.
Rouhani’s renewed threats were made amid bipartisan calls in Congress to increase pressure on Iran in response to its recent arrest of two Americans.
Iran “will not fulfill agreements” made in the deal, which was signed July 14, according to reports by the country’s state-controlled media.
“The obligations are the following: the group of six [global powers] will not impose new sanctions, and we should fulfill the agreements,” Rouhani declared. “In case the Unites States or other countries fail to comply with their obligations, we will be forced to do the same.”
Rouhani also demanded that the US apologize for its alleged hostilities against Iran. “If they modify their policies, correct errors committed in these 37 years and apologize to the Iranian people, the situation will change and good things can happen,” Rouhani said.
Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon adviser and expert on rogue regimes, said that these types of threats by Iran are a hallmark of the hardline administration, according to WFB.
US Team ‘Played into Iran’s Hands’
“[US Secretary of State John Kerry’s] team played into Iran’s hands by front-loading Iran’s rewards and removing any incentive for Tehran to adhere to commitments,” Rubin said. “Who besides Obama and Kerry would give a rogue regime and the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism a free pass against consequence for any of their actions?”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Iran nuclear deal a “historic mistake,” and Israeli lawmakers, including the Opposition, were united in condemning the agreement.
“Iran draws encouragement from the concessions that it is receiving from the major powers. The message that Iran is receiving from this is that it is not being called upon to halt its aggression, that it can continue and even increase this aggression, and this is exactly what it is doing. It has been doing so in recent months, in recent weeks and in recent days; it is doing so throughout the Middle East, from Iraq to Yemen. It is doing so in Lebanon and on the border with the Golan Heights. It is grasping the Middle East with arms of terror and blood,” Netanyahu warned prior to the deal signing.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Iran halted the dismantling of its centrifuges at two uranium enrichment plants, days after conservative Iranian lawmakers had complained to Rouhani that the disassembling process was moving too quickly and that he was going against directives from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
By: United with Israel Staff
(With files from the Washington Free Beacon)