Hassan Rouhani slammed the US for what he called “unjust and illegal” sanctions which he said were an example of “economic terrorism”, in a fiery speech carried live on state television. It comes a month after President Trump reimposed an embargo on Iran’s vital oil industry as well as shipping and banks after pulling the US out of the 2015 nuclear agreement in May, calling it the “worst deal ever”. Rouhani said: “I warn those who impose sanctions that if Iran’s ability to fight drugs and terrorism are affected … you will not be safe from a deluge of drugs, asylum seekers, bombs and terrorism.”
Drug trafficking is a serious challenge for Iran as it borders Afghanistan – the world’s largest opium producer – and Pakistan, a major transit country for drugs.
In 2012, Iran accounted for two thirds of the world’s opium seizures and one fourth of the world’s heroin and morphine seizures, a UN report published in 2014 showed.
Rouhani told a meeting of heads of parliaments of China, Russia, and four other countries today: “Economic terrorism means creating horror in a country and create fear in other countries that intend to invest (there).
“America’s withdrawal from the (nuclear accord) is undoubtedly a clear example of economic terrorism.”
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During his presidential run, Mr Trump vowed to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)and delivered on his promise 16 months into his term.
European leaders expressed their disappointment over the withdrawal from the multilateral deal which stops Iran from getting a nuclear weapon for a least a decade.
In 2015 after the accord was reached by the US, UK, France, Russia, China, Germany and the European Union, it was hailed as a “win-win solution”.
The countries agreed to lift sanctions on Tehran in return for its cooperation which includes allowing international inspectors in to visit key nuclear facilities.
But the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced it as a “historic mistake” and said it would pave the way for Iran to produce “an entire arsenal with the means to deliver it”.
Separately, Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying that the US is selling more arms into the Middle East than the region needs, turning it into a “tinderbox”.