ugc_banner

Trump will face 'severe consequences' if nuclear deal not accepted: Iran President

WION Web Team
New Delhi, Delhi, IndiaUpdated: Apr 24, 2018, 03:32 PM IST
main img
File photo of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Photograph:(Reuters)

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday warned US President Donald Trump to remain in the nuclear deal or else he could face "severe consequences."

The nuclear deal was formed by Tehran in 2015 for which the other signatories have stepped up efforts to save it. Rouhani also said that Iran is "prepared for all possible situations."

“I am telling those in the White House that if they do not live up to their commitments, the Iranian government will firmly react,” Rouhani said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

“If anyone betrays the deal, they should know that they would face severe consequences,” he told a cheering crowd of thousands gathered in the city of Tabriz. “Iran is prepared for all possible situations,” he added.

His comments come during a time when Trump has been hosting French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington, who is working to convince him to stay in the pact. As per reports,  Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel will also work to convince Trump at a meeting later this week.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had said that "It is either all or nothing. European leaders should encourage Trump not just to stay in the nuclear deal, but more important to begin implementing his part of the bargain in good faith."

Under Iran's settlement with the United States, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China, Teheran agreed to curb its nuclear programme to satisfy the powers that it could not be used to develop atomic bombs.

In exchange, Iran received relief from sanctions, most of which were lifted in January 2016.

Trump has given the European signatories a May 12 deadline to "fix the terrible flaws" of the 2015 nuclear deal, or he will refuse to extend US sanctions relief on Iran.