Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 9 May 2018

Iran president: Uranium enrichment may resume if deal fails

By NASSER KARIMI and Iran's 2015 nuclear deal
AMIR VAHDAT imposed restrictions on the
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Presi- Islamic Republic's nuclear
dent Hassan Rouhani program in return for the
warned Tuesday that Iran lifting of most of the U.S.
could restart enriching ura- and international sanctions
nium "without any limita- against Tehran.
tions" within weeks, after However, the deal came
President Donald Trump with time limits and did
pulled America out of the not address Iran's ballistic
nuclear deal, though he missile program or its re-
said world powers still in the gional policies in Syria and
accord could potentially elsewhere. Trump has re-
save the pact. peatedly pointed to those
Rouhani's speech, broad- omissions in referring to the
cast live on state television accord as the "worst deal
within minutes of Trump's ever." However, propo-
announcement, marked nents have said those time
a doubling-down for the limits were meant to en-
cleric who has seen his courage more discussion
signature foreign policy with Iran in the future that
achievement threatened could eventually address
by Trump for years. Trump's other concerns.
announcement from the Many in Tehran and else-
White House marked po- where in the country are
tentially the worst-case worried about what Trump's
scenario for the relative decision could mean for
moderate, as the country's Iran.
economy continues to reel Already, the Iranian rial is
despite the deal and may trading on the black mar-
further worsen. ket at 66,000 to the dollar,
Stressing that the accord despite a government-set
remained a "multilateral" rate of 42,000 rials. And
one, and not just with the In this photo released by official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan many say they have not
U.S., Rouhani said he'd be Rouhani addresses the nation in a televised speech in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. seen any benefits from the
sending Iranian Foreign Associated Press nuclear deal.
Minister Mohammad Ja- Iran's poor economy and
vad Zarif to the countries and other signatories of the wants to keep "working Only "naive individuals unemployment sparked
still in the deal — China, nuclear deal, who signed it with the world and (pur- would accept to enter nationwide protests in
France, Germany, Russia and who will remain loyal sue) constructive engage- talks with such a country," December and January
and the United Kingdom. to it. Everything depends ment with the world." That he added. "We are ready that saw at least 25 peo-
Iran hopes the European on our national interests." appeared to be a nod to and have a plan for man- ple killed and, reportedly,
Union will pass laws to pro- During the live broadcast, Europe, which has struck a aging ... under any circum- nearly 5,000 arrested.
tect European firms from Rouhani also made a point series of business deals with stance." Still some hard-line Iranian
any potential U.S. sanc- of reeling off examples of Iran since signing the land- Jahangiri's comments politicians welcomed the
tions. EU officials have sug- American meddling in Iran, mark 2015 nuclear accord. suggest a potential po- U.S. pullout. "The U.S. pull-
gested they'll do what they including the 1953 coup Trump and the United litical turn against any rap- out from the deal is the best
can to salvage the agree- that deposed its elected States also came under fire prochement with the West achievement for Iran since
ment. prime minister and the U.S. from Iran's first vice presi- in response to the Trump it shows the real face of
Still, Rouhani made a point Navy shooting down of an dent, Eshaq Jahangiri, a pullout, especially as he the U.S.," said hard-line law-
of stressing that Iran, at any Iranian commercial airliner popular reformist politician is a reformist — a politi- maker Ahmad Alirzabeigi.
time, could resume its nu- in 1988. who has been suggested cian who advocates for "We should not rely on the
clear program. Iranian state television did as a possible presidential change to Iran's theocratic U.S., nor on Europe."
"So if necessary, we can not broadcast Trump's an- contender in Iran's 2021 government. It also comes "We will face hard sanc-
begin our industrial enrich- nouncement live, but car- election. as Trump is set to meet tions following the U.S.
ment without any limita- ried his remarks in a crawl "Today, the biggest power with North Korean leader pullout, but they will not
tions," the Iranian leader at the bottom of the screen in the world is yelling that it Kim Jong Un later this year, remain in place since the
said. "Until implementation and later recounted some does not accept" the deal, where negotiations will un- global community needs
of this decision, we will wait of them. Jahangiri said, according doubtedly include talks Iran," added another hard-
for some weeks and will talk Earlier Tuesday, Rouhani to the semi-official ISNA about that country's atom- line lawmaker, Jabbar
with our friends and allies had stressed that Iran news agency. ic weapons program. Kouchakinejad.q