Iran Ready to Reciprocate US Violation of N. Deal: Supreme Leader’s Aide

“Imposition, approval or extension of the sanctions under any pretext is no doubt a flagrant violation of the nuclear deal,” Velayati told reporters after a meeting with Russia’s special envoy on Syria, Alexander Lavrentiev, in Tehran today; FNA reported.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will stand against any violation of the nuclear deal and enjoys the needed preparedness to reciprocate,” said the senior member of the Iranian commission which monitors the full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Stressing that Iran’s hands are not at all tied up to reciprocate any possible violation of the nuclear deal, Velayati said, “We will continue our work powerfully to use the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes within the framework of the international rules.”

His remarks came in reaction to the extension of the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) by the US Senate on Thursday that clearly violates the last year nuclear deal. The Iranian officials have warned that Tehran has prepared itself for showing a tough reaction.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani requested the world powers, party to the nuclear deal with Tehran, to take action to stop Washington from damaging the Vienna agreement, warning that the US is treating the multilateral deal based on its own antagonistic aspirations.

“The nuclear deal is the product of seven countries’ cooperation and in line with global peace and security. Every one should try to safeguard its achievements and we shouldn’t allow any country to take action to weaken the agreement as it desires,” President Rouhani said in a meeting with Lavrentiev in Tehran on Saturday.

“Iran has always been and will be committed to its international undertakings and other members of the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, France and Britain plus Germany) should fully act upon their undertakings too for the nuclear deal to remain,” he added.

Lavrentiev, for his part, referred to the developments related to the nuclear deal, and said, “Russia’s position on the nuclear deal is stable and strong and undermining the agreement is no way justified.”

“The US officials have still a responsibility to prevent execution of such bills as they blatantly violate the nuclear agreement,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said upon his arrival in New Delhi International Airport on Saturday.

The Iranian foreign minister underlined that signing the US Congress bill for extension of Iran’s sanctions will discredit the US government at the international scene.

Zarif, however, reiterated that the US unilateral sanctions have no impact on the third countries’ relations with Iran.

Also, Secretary of Iran’s Expediency Council (EC) Mohsen Rezayee warned the US to fulfill its undertakings under the JCPOA or wait for the resumption of full-scale nuclear activities by Tehran.

“Should the US adopt new sanctions against Iran, Tehran’s response will be shocking,” Rezayee wrote in his Instagram page on Friday.

The Expediency Council’s secretary said that the sanctions will not be targeted against Iran only; rather they will mock the European Union, China and Russia as well.

“We will have the free hand to take action against the US; however, our action will be many times more fundamental and more crushing,” Rezayee added.