Rouhani: Iran Would Not Hesitate to Have Sanctions Lifted


TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his administration will not waste time to have the sanctions removed and restore the rights of people of Iran.

In comments after inaugurating a number of agricultural projects via videoconference on Thursday, Rouhani said his administration will not wait for a moment in restoring the rights of Iranians whenever it finds out that the parties that have imposed sanctions are prepared to abide by the law and regulations.

Pointing to the far-reaching impacts of the inhumane and cruel sanctions imposed by the administration of his former US counterpart, the president dismissed comments from people who are unfamiliar with the situation and blame only 30% of the problems on the foreign sanctions.

He said the effects of the sanctions could be so profound that an interruption in the import of raw materials would fully halt the production.

Highlighting his administration’s success in handling the situation and ensuring food security, the president said the inauguration of major national projects over the past year has sent the message that the sanctions and pressures could not hinder Iran’s progress and development.

Last month, Rouhani said the US would have no option but to remove the sanctions against the Iranian nation as the futility of the policy of maximum pressure has become evident.

Iran and the remaining parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Russia, China, the UK, France and Germany) have launched a new round of negotiations on the ways for the US’ return to the nuclear deal and the termination of sanctions on Tehran.

In remarks in February, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Iran will resume honoring the JCPOA in full only after the US has removed all sanctions on Tehran in a practical and verifiable manner.

The JCPOA was signed in 2015 and ratified in the form of the UNSC Resolution 2231.

However, former US president Donald Trump unilaterally pulled Washington out of the JCPOA in May 2018 and reinstated the sanctions that had been lifted by the deal.

In May 2019, Iran began to scale back its JCPOA commitments after the remaining European parties failed to fulfill their end of the bargain and compensate for Washington’s absence.