Rouhani says Iran not to renegotiate nuclear deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that Tehran will never renegotiate nuclear deal which it signed with the world powers in 2015.

"The JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) is non-negotiable and cannot be rewritten," Rouhani said in a press conference, Xinhua reported.

"It is an international deal and has been approved by the UN Security Council," he said, arguing that "therefore, it is meaningless to re-discuss it with anybody."

Rouhani warned that as long as Iran's interests are secured by the JCPOA, it will remain committed to the deal.

"Iran will not be the first to drop the nuclear deal," Rouhani said, adding that "we are happy that (Donald) Trump has not been able to tear the deal after one year in the office."

The JCPOA was reached between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany, in July 2015.

Under the deal, Iran agrees to halt its nuclear weapon program in exchange for economic aid and lifting of international sanctions.

However, US President Donald Trump has called for decertifying the agreement, alleging that Iran had committed "multiple violations," which Tehran has denied.

--IANS

ahm/