US will regret if it quits nuclear deal: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Sunday that if the US quits the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers then Washington would regret it "like never before".

US President Donald Trump has threatened to abandon the agreement when it comes up for renewal on May 12, demanding his country's European allies "fix the terrible flaws" or he will re-impose sanctions. "If the United States leaves the nuclear agreement, you will soon see that they will regret it like never before in history," Rouhani said. "Trump must know that our people are united, the Zionist regime (Israel) must know that our people are united," Rouhani added. 

The nuclear deal was struck in 2015 between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US, then led by Barack Obama. Under the pact, sanctions were lifted in return for a commitment not to pursue a nuclear bomb, but Iran says it is not reaping the rewards despite complying with the deal. 

The Islamic republic has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes.