Rouhani calls US sanctions terrorism

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday said that the sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic by the US constitute an act of terrorism.

Rouhani spoke following a Cabinet meeting in Tehran, underscoring the need for Iranians to continue to stand united against US sanctions, reports Efe.

"The actions of the US in pressurising banks and companies to not cooperate with Iran are absolute terrorist acts against international regulations," Rouhani said.

"The US is using all that it has against the nation of Iran, and the nation of Iran responds against this with all of its might, hope, and confidence," the Iranian president said.

On May 8, 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 international nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which saw the Iranian regime agree to limits on its nuclear energy program in exchange for a lifting of sanctions.

The remaining signatories -- Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the European Union -- criticised the Trump administration for this move as international inspectors have consistently found that Tehran is abiding by the pact.

Since the Trump decision, the US has reinstated earlier sanctions and instituted additional measures specifically targeting Iran's central bank and oil market.

Some foreign companies have pulled out of Iran in the face of Washington's threat to retaliate against individuals or entities who continue to do business with the Islamic Republic.

"When they, against international regulations, threaten some bank or company to impose penalty fines for cooperating with a country, they are actually causing terror in the banking and commercial sectors and they are carrying out an economic terrorist act," Rouhani said.

Rouhani discussed at the Wednesday Cabinet session a number of building projects he recently inaugurated in Hormozgan province, of which the largest was the third phase of the Persian Gulf Star Refinery.

"The opening of ... projects in Hormozgan Province is the symbol of Iranian nation's capabilities and progress," the president stated, "This is a great honour for the government and by the end of this year, our petrol production will surpass 100 million litres."

--IANS

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