Iran to U.S.: ‘Historic regret’ if nuke deal scrapped

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks to the crowd in the city of Sabzevarr, northwestern Iran, on Sunday. Photo by Iran presidential office/EPA

May 6 (UPI) — Iran President Hassan Rouhani warned the United States on Sunday that it would be a “historic mistake” if the nation abandons the nuclear deal.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will decide Saturday whether the agreement will be re-certified. Congress requires the president to approve the agreement every three months.

“If America leaves the nuclear deal, this will entail historic regret for it,” Rouhani said in a televised speech to a crowd in city of Sabzevarr, northwestern Iran.

He added Iran has “a plan to counter any decision Trump may take and we will confront it.”

Rhouhani also said: “When it comes to weapons and defending our country, we will not negotiate with anybody.”

Rhouani said its nuclear program is peaceful, but the nation will build “as many facilities, weapons, missiles that are necessary for our country,” and “it is none of others’ business.”

Trump has described the 2015 agreement, which lifted sanctions on Iran in return for limits on its nuclear program, as “terrible.” The agreement was also approved by China, Russia, Germany, France, Britain and the European Union.

France, Britain and Germany have told Trump the current deal is the best way to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson plans to discuss the matter with Vice President Mike Pence, national security adviser John Bolton and foreign policy leaders in Congress. And French President Macron meet with Trump on April 26 in an attempt to convince Trump to recertify the pact.

Trump wants Congress and European powers to fix “disastrous flaws.”

Rouhani said that only three countries oppose the deal — the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week in Saudi Arabia that Iran is “the greatest sponsor of terrorism in the world.”

Also Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again criticized the agreement during a cabinet meeting. He accused Iran supplying advanced weapons to the Syrian government.

“We are determined to block Iran’s aggression against us even if this means a struggle,” he said. “Better now than later.”

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