Iranian President Rouhani lashes out at United States as Iran marks Nuclear Day

Published April 9, 2018
Hassan Rouhani is briefed about nuclear achievements during a ceremony in Tehran to mark "National Nuclear Day". —AP
Hassan Rouhani is briefed about nuclear achievements during a ceremony in Tehran to mark "National Nuclear Day". —AP
Hassan Rouhani attends a ceremony to mark National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran. —AFP
Hassan Rouhani attends a ceremony to mark National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran. —AFP

Iran's president lashed out at the United States on Monday as Iran marked “National Nuclear Day,” dedicated to its achievements in nuclear technology.

Hassan Rouhani said that despite many attempts, the US has “failed to destroy” the landmark 2015 deal between Iran and world powers.

Rouhani also mocked President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly described the nuclear agreement as “bad.” Trump extended sanctions waivers in January but has declined to re-certify the nuclear deal.

“They spent huge amounts of dollars and talked a lot, and posted so many tweets, thinking that this building would shake with tweets,” Rouhani said of the Trump administration. His speech was broadcast live on Iranian state TV.

The nuclear agreement curbed Tehran's controversial nuclear enrichment program in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

Rouhani reaffirmed his government's commitment to the deal and said Iran would not be the first to violate it. He also stressed Iran is ready to quickly revert to the situation before the deal, should the US abandon it.

“If they breach the deal, they will see its impact within a week or less than a week,” Rouhani said.

The spokesman for Iran's Atomic Agency, Behrouz Kamalvandi, claimed that should the deal collapse, Iran would be able to restart the enrichment program and enrich uranium to the level of 20 per cent within two days. Weapons-grade uranium is 90 percent enriched.

Rouhani on Monday also unveiled dozens of Iran's purported nuclear achievements, including a centrifuge for use in the oil industry and a laser spectrometer.

Iran often boasts of technological achievements which are impossible to independently verify.

In his speech, Rouhani urged Arab countries in the Mideast many of them US allies to stop cooperating with Washington and turn to each other instead.

“Trust your nation's powers and the power of regional nations,” he said. “Let's stand together.”

Opinion

Editorial

Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...
Under siege
Updated 03 May, 2024

Under siege

Whether through direct censorship, withholding advertising, harassment or violence, the press in Pakistan navigates a hazardous terrain.
Meddlesome ways
03 May, 2024

Meddlesome ways

AFTER this week’s proceedings in the so-called ‘meddling case’, it appears that the majority of judges...
Mass transit mess
03 May, 2024

Mass transit mess

THAT Karachi — one of the world’s largest megacities — does not have a mass transit system worth the name is ...