Rouhani says US has failed to undermine nuclear deal

ANKARA / Reuters

Iran’s president said on Sunday the United States had failed to undermine a nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers, and hailed the accord as a “long-lasting victory” for Iran, state television reported.
US President Donald Trump delivered an ultimatum to European signatories of the deal to fix the “terrible flaws” of the agreement with Iran, or the United States would pull out.
“The American administration has failed to undermine the nuclear deal … Trump, despite his repeated efforts, has failed to undermine the accord … The deal is a long-lasting victory for Iran,” President Hassan Rouhani said in a speech, broadcast live on state TV.
Trump agreed to waive sanctions against Iran for the last time to give the United States and European allies a final chance to amend the pact. Iran says the nuclear deal is not renegotiable and it will stick to the accord as long as the other signatories respect it but will “shred” the deal if Washington pulls out. Under the deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme, in exchange for lifting of most sanctions.

CHINA: DEAL NOT DERAILED
China pledged to continue playing a constructive role in maintaining and implementing the Iran nuclear deal, after US President Donald Trump set an ultimatum to fix “disastrous flaws” in a deal.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif by phone that implementation of the deal had not been “derailed” but would face “some new complicating factors”, the state news agency Xinhua reported.
Continuing to implement the nuclear deal was the responsibility of all parties concerned and the common wish of the international community, Wang was quoted as saying during the call, which took place on a visit to Rwanda.
The deal would help uphold the international non-proliferation regime, maintain regional peace and stability and solve “other hot issues” around the world, he said. He urged Iran to remain calm and continue to fulfill its obligations under the deal.
While Trump approved the sanctions waiver, the Treasury Department announced new, targeted sanctions against 14 entities and people, including the head of Iran’s judiciary, Sadeq Amoli Larijani, a close ally of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran said it would retaliate against the new sanctions, although it did not specify how.