Iranian president says country will ‘resist’ new US sanctions

TEHRAN, Iran (Kurdistan 24) – The President of Iran on Wednesday said new US sanctions on the country contradicted a nuclear pact with world powers, adding Iran would “resist” the new penalties.

United States President Donald Trump and his administration imposed new economic sanctions on Tehran on Tuesday.

The US government said the economic sanctions were targeting 18 entities and people for backing “illicit Iranian actors or transnational criminal activity,” Reuters reported.

The Trump administration added the sanctions were enforced over Tehran’s ballistic missile program and its “malign activities” in the Middle East which destabilized any “positive contributions” from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded to Washington’s new sanctions accusing them of turning their backs on an original nuclear agreement.

“Some of the actions of the Americans are against the spirit and even the letter of the [nuclear accord],” the Iranian leader said, according to statements carried on state television.

“We shall resist these plans and actions,” he continued. “[The] great nation of Iran will have an appropriate answer.”

Rouhani claimed his government had not overstepped any boundaries in the nuclear pact, adding the US was plotting against Iran.

Washington’s new sanctions on Tehran are an indication the Trump administration seeks to increase pressure on Iran regarding its nuclear program.

“One of the plots of the Americans is to act in such a way that would make Iran say that it is not following its commitments,” Rouhani stated.

“I think the Americans will fail as we will always respect our international commitments,” he declared.

On Tuesday, Iran’s parliament agreed to discuss measures, including more funding for the missile program, state media reported.

Editing by G.H. Renaud