Iran vows commitment to nuclear deal in face of US sanction pressures

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that the Islamic republic has been committed to its nuclear deal obligations over the past years and will remain to do so, official IRNA news agency reported.

Rouhani made the remarks at a conference in Bern, capital of Switzerland, with his Swiss counterpart Alain Berset.

The two presidents expressed their support for the Iranian international nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

President of Iran Hassan Rouhani (C-R) is welcomed by President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset (C-L) at Zurich Airport in Zurich, Switzerland, July 02, 2018. /VCG Photo

"We announce to the world that Iran respects the international regulations including the non-proliferation treaties," Rouhani said at a Monday meeting with Berset.

The deal is a "multilateral, international agreement," and the US withdrawal from the accord proved its lack of commitment to its international obligations, he said on Tuesday.

For his part, Berset described the JCPOA as a big diplomatic victory for the world.

"All countries should work to preserve the accord, which is the outcome of a lengthy diplomatic process and has been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council," Press TV reported.

President of Iran Hassan Rouhani and President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset hold a press conference after their meeting in Bern, Switzerland, July 03, 2018. /VCG Photo

He called on the signatories to the nuclear deal to continue its full implementation.

Rouhani said constructive interaction with the world is the key principle of Iran's foreign policy.

"We have never taken a step to harm a country and will never do so in the future," Rouhani said.

"We declare to the whole world that Iran wants fair legal relations with the world in a peaceful and sustainable manner. We will play our part very well in this regard," he was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Swiss President Alain Berset, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and members of the delegations attend a meeting during an official visit in Bern, Switzerland, July 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

However, the Iranian nation has never bowed and will never bow to US pressures, he stressed.

Rouhani, who was talking to the Iranians living in Switzerland, urged them to express their support and sympathy to their compatriots all over the world.

"The farther we get from each other, the more plots the enemy will hatch. Our duty is to make efforts for the development and more welfare of the Iranian nation," Rouhani said.

"The Americans have claimed that they want to completely block Iranian oil exports ... Do this if you can and see its consequences," the Iranian president warned.

Last week, the US State Department announced that the US has been pushing its allies to stop oil imports from Iran by November 4.

US President Donald Trump has asked Saudi Arabia to increase its oil exports to compensate the shortage in the market demands in case Iran's crude exports drop.

Iran's Petroleum Ministry has said it has been prepared for the worst-case scenarios in case the US pressures take effect.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency