Iran will retaliate if US renews sanctions: Khamenei
Says the current US administration has committed several violations including renewal of the 10-year sanctions
This handout photo provided by the official website of The Center for Preserving and Publishing the Works of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, shows him speaking during a meeting with members of the Basij force, a volunteer paramilitary organisation, on November 22, 2016 in the capital Tehran. PHOTO: AFP
TEHRAN:
Iran will retaliate if the United States renews sanctions next month, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Wednesday.
"In the issue of the nuclear deal, the current administration has committed several violations, the latest of which is the renewal of the 10-year sanctions," Khamenei said in a televised speech to thousands of members of the Basij volunteer militia.
"If these sanctions happen, it is absolutely a breach of the JCPOA," he added, referring to last year's deal with world powers under which sanctions were eased in exchange for curbs to Iran's nuclear programme.
Trump win makes 'no difference' to Iran: Khamenei
"They must know that the Islamic republic will react against it."
The US Congress last week voted to renew long-standing sanctions linked to Iran's ballistic missile tests and human rights record that pre-date the controversy around Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The 10-year sanctions must still be approved by the Senate and President Barack Obama by the end of the year.
Iran must stand strong against US on region conflicts: Khamenei
Washington says these sanctions have nothing to do with the nuclear deal, but Iran says the continuing restrictions go against the spirit of the agreement, particularly since they have discouraged international banks from returning.
"The JCPOA must not become a tool for pressuring the Iranian people," Khamenei said.
Iran will retaliate if the United States renews sanctions next month, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Wednesday.
"In the issue of the nuclear deal, the current administration has committed several violations, the latest of which is the renewal of the 10-year sanctions," Khamenei said in a televised speech to thousands of members of the Basij volunteer militia.
"If these sanctions happen, it is absolutely a breach of the JCPOA," he added, referring to last year's deal with world powers under which sanctions were eased in exchange for curbs to Iran's nuclear programme.
Trump win makes 'no difference' to Iran: Khamenei
"They must know that the Islamic republic will react against it."
The US Congress last week voted to renew long-standing sanctions linked to Iran's ballistic missile tests and human rights record that pre-date the controversy around Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The 10-year sanctions must still be approved by the Senate and President Barack Obama by the end of the year.
Iran must stand strong against US on region conflicts: Khamenei
Washington says these sanctions have nothing to do with the nuclear deal, but Iran says the continuing restrictions go against the spirit of the agreement, particularly since they have discouraged international banks from returning.
"The JCPOA must not become a tool for pressuring the Iranian people," Khamenei said.