Iran's supreme leader has threatened a "crushing response" to the US goes ahead with its bid to extend the UN Security Council arms embargo against Tehran, Express reports in its article World War 3 panic: Iran threatens 'CRUSHING response' to US over Trump's 'stupid mistake'. Under Iran's deal with world powers to accept limits to its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions, a UN weapons embargo is due to expire in October. The US, which exited the deal in 2018, has called for the embargo to be extended.
In a strongly-worded speech, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded to the US' plot and repeated Iran's longstanding criticism of Washington's decision to exit the nuclear arms deal, which he called a "stupid mistake". He said: "If America wants to return to the deal, it should lift all the sanctions on Tehran and compensate for the reimposition of sanctions." "Iran will give a crushing response if the arms embargo on Tehran is extended."
Iran has gradually rolled back its commitments under the accord in response to the US decision to quit, but says it wants the agreement to remain in place. It has criticised European parties to the deal for failing to salvage the pact by shielding its economy from US sanctions. He added: "Iran's nuclear steps are reversible if other parties to the deal fulfil their obligations and preserve Tehran's interests under the pact."
President Rouhani's warning comes just days after Ianian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi threatened that its reaction would be "proportionate" and "firm" after the US moved to take a harder stance against the Islamic Republic.
He said: "Iran is not seeking to exit the 2015 nuclear deal with six powers. "America's move is illegitimate and our reaction will be proportionate. The United States is not a member of the nuclear deal anymore. Iran's reaction to America's illegal measures will be firm." Mr Trump withdrew his nation from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran that have crippled its economy. The US President has since imposed economic and trade sanctions on Iran, targeting its lucrative oil, financial and shipping sectors.
The measures are part of a wider effort from Mr Trump to curb Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes while destroying its influence in the Middle East, particularly its support for proxies in Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. Under the deal, Iran agreed to halt its sensitive nuclear work in exchange for sanctions relief. Iran, which denies its nuclear programme is aimed at building a bomb, has gradually rolled back its commitments under the accord since the US quit. It argues that Washington's actions justify such actions.
