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Khamenei Threatens US: We will React Strongly to any Wrong Move on Nuclear Deal | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, shown at a clerical gathering. (Reuters)


London – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that Tehran will not be bullied by the US and will strongly react to any “wrong move” on Tehran’s nuclear deal.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said that Iran was violating “the spirit” of the 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Speaking at the graduation of the Iranian police academy, the supreme leader was quoted as saying Iran was standing firm and any wrong move by the “domineering” regime regarding the nuclear accord will face the reaction of the Islamic Republic.

Washington extended on Thursday some sanctions for Iran under the nuclear deal but said it had yet to decide whether to maintain the agreement.

As of mid-October, Trump must decide whether to certify that Iran is complying with the deal or not, where in this case the Congress has 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions.

“Today, despite all the commitments and discussions in the negotiations, America’s attitude toward these negotiations and their outcome is completely unjust and amounts to bullying,” Khamenei said.

The Supreme Leader added that US should know there will be no retreat by Iran.

Addressing US officials, Khamenei stated: “It is you who have lied. And those of you who lie do not want happiness and bliss for any nation. They condone everything at any price in order to ensure their illegitimate interests.”

“The enemy should know that if bullying and thuggish behavior works in other parts of the world, it does not work in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic Republic is standing firm and powerful,” Khamenei stressed.

Before leaving to attend a UN General Assembly meeting in New York, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that Washington should join the countries that continued to support the nuclear deal, which he compared to a dinner party.

“They can choose the right path and also enter the room where the food is served. We would not have a problem with that,” Iranian media outlets quoted Rouhani as saying.

The US said Tehran’s ballistic missile tests violated a UN resolution that endorsed the nuclear deal.

It called on Iran not to undertake activities related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

Iran denies its missile development violates the resolution, claiming the missiles are not designed to carry nuclear weapons.