Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday condemned US sanctions, saying they were “economic terrorism.”
“US withdrawal from nuclear deal and the imposition of sanctions against the Iranian nation are a clear example of economic terrorism.”
Rouhani’s remarks were at the second conference of parliament speakers from Afghanistan, China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey on challenges of terrorism and inter-regional connectivity in Tehran on Saturday.
“America’s unjust and illegal sanctions against the honorable nation of Iran have targeted our nation in a clear instance of terrorism,” Rouhani said in a televised speech.
“We are facing an all-out assault which is not only threatening our independence and identity but also is bent on breaking our longstanding ties,” he added.
Rouhani drew parallels with the sanctions and other pressure faced by the countries attending the conference.
“When they put pressure on China’s trade, we are all harmed… By punishing Turkey, we are all punished. Any time they threaten Russia, we too consider our security to be endangered,” he said.
“When they impose sanctions on Iran, they deprive all of us of the benefits of international trade, energy security and sustainable development. And in fact, they impose sanctions on everyone.
“We are here to say that we don’t intend to tolerate such insolence.”
Rouhani also warned Europe — which has strongly objected to the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal — that much is at stake in its efforts to bypass US sanctions and maintain trade with Iran.
“They should know that by sanctioning Iran, they would harm our ability to fight drugs and terrorism,” Rouhani said, referring to Iran’s efforts to combat smuggling, particularly from Afghanistan.
Source: Agencies
