Iran defends nuclear deal, warns Trump to respect it

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani insisted Wednesday his country has complied with the nuclear accord it signed with six world powers, and warned “rogue newcomer” Donald Trump that the United States faces isolation if he tears it up.

Addressing the UN General Assembly one day after the US president appeared on the same podium to launch a blistering attack on both Iran and on the 2015 accord, Rouhani warned the fate of the deal cannot be decided by “one or two countries.”

“It will be a great pity if this agreement were to be destroyed by rogue newcomers to the world of politics. The world will have lost a great opportunity,” Rouhani told the world body.

“By violating its international commitments, the new US administration only destroys its own credibility and undermines international confidence in negotiating with it or accepting its word or promise.”

But, outside the assembly chamber, there were signs that America’s allies — while still opposed to abandoning the accord — may be prepared to countenance additions to it to appease Trump’s concerns and save the agreeent.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron repeated his support of a deal that European capitals firmly believe remains the best way to prevent Tehran’s Islamist regime from developing a nuclear weapon.

But he admitted “we have to add two or three pillars.”

These measures should include “one to better control ballistic missiles and ballistic activities” and another to prolong the agreement beyond 2025, when limits on Iran’s nuclear enrichment will start to expire.

Source punchng.