Iran Warns of Risks If Nuclear Deal Fails

- Iran Warns of Risks If Nuclear Deal Fails
by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin, http://www.theguardian.com.au/
Iran could reduce its co-operation with the UN nuclear watchdog, President Hassan Rouhani has told the body’s head, after he warned US President Donald Trump of “consequences” of fresh sanctions against Iranian oil sales.
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In May, Trump pulled out of a multinational deal under which sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for curbs to its nuclear program, verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Washington has since told countries they must stop buying Iranian oil from November 4 or face financial measures.
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“Iran’s nuclear activities have always been for peaceful purposes, but it is Iran that would decide on its level of co-operation with the IAEA,” Iranian state news agency IRNA quoted Rouhani as saying after meeting IAEA head Yukiya Amano in Vienna on Wednesday.
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“The responsibility for the change of Iran’s co-operation level with the IAEA falls on those who have created this new situation,” he added. Rouhani said earlier in the day Tehran would stand firm against US threats to cut Iranian oil sales. “The Americans say they want to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero … It shows they have not thought about its consequences,” Rouhani was quoted as saying by IRNA.
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On Tuesday, Rouhani hinted at a threat to disrupt oil shipments from neighbouring countries if Washington tries to cut its exports. He did not elaborate, but an Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander explicitly said on Wednesday Iran would block any exports of crude from the Gulf in retaliation for hostile US action. “If they want to stop Iranian oil exports, we will not allow any oil shipment to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” Ismail Kowsari was quoted as saying by the Young Journalists Club (YJC) website.
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Rouhani, in Vienna trying to salvage the nuclear deal, said US sanctions were a “crime and aggression”, and called on European and other governments to stand up to Trump.
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