US President Donald Trump stressed over the weekend that the Islamic Republic of Iran was not living up to the spirit of the nuclear agreement that was reached in 2015 with the aim of curbing Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for crippling economic sanctions relief. The President said, “Today I am announcing our strategy along with several major steps we are taking to confront the training regimes hostile actions and to ensure that Iran never and I mean never acquires a nuclear weapon. Our policy is based on a clear-eyed assessment of the Iranian dictatorship. Its sponsorship of terrorism and its continuing aggression in the Middle East and all around the world.” Trump further asserted “By its own terms, the Iran deal was supposed to contribute to regional and international peace and security. And yet, while the United States adheres to our commitment under the deal the Iranian regime continues to fuel conflict, terror and turmoil throughout the Middle East and beyond. Importantly Iran is not living up to the spirit of the deal,” the American leader said in a special televised address. President Trump declared that because of Iran’s ongoing violations and aggression across the Middle East, his administration will work together with American lawmakers and international powers to assure that the agreement will truly provide the international community with assurances that the Islamic Republic will not be able to pursue nuclear weapons capabilities. President Khamenei said, “In regards to JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), a multinational and international deal, so long as it remains in keeping with our national rights and interests, so long as we enjoy the effects of JCPOA, our nation will honor the JCPOA. However, if one day our interests are not served, and the other parties do not fulfil their promises, we will not hesitate even one moment and will respond,” the Iranian president responded to the American decision.
In response to President Trump’s decision, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reassured the International community that the Islamic Republic will continue to adhere to the nuclear agreement of 2015 so long as it serves Iran’s national interests. Rouhani warned however, that if the agreement would be breached, Tehran will free itself from the restrictions that were imposed on it, emphasizing that it will not agree to revisit the conditions that were reached in the Joint Comprehensive plan of actions. “In regards to JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), a multinational and international deal, so long as it remains in keeping with our national rights and interests, so long as we enjoy the effects of JCPOA, our nation will honor the JCPOA.” / “However, if one day our interests are not served, and the other parties do not fulfil their promises, we will not hesitate even one moment and will respond,” President Rouhani said.