Iran Nuclear Deal: Trump faces May 12 deadline to act on sanctions

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02:42

Iran says there will be consequences if the US pulls out of the nuclear deal. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made the warning on Sunday. CGTN's Toby Muse reports.

Iran is warning of historic regret if the U.S. withdraws from the nuclear deal with the Middle Eastern country.

The comments came as Iran's President Hassan Rouhani addressed the country on Sunday.

HASSAN ROUHANI IRANIAN PRESIDENT "If the United States leaves the nuclear agreement, you will soon see that they will regret it like never before in history."

The White House will decide by next Saturday whether to re-certify the deal and extend a waiver on sanctions against Iran. President Donald Trump has been critical of the agreement ever since he campaigned for the 2016 election, calling it the worst deal ever negotiated. If, as is thought likely, Trump pulls out, the Iranian government warned it was ready.

HASSAN ROUHANI IRANIAN PRESIDENT "No change will occur in our lives next week. We have devised plans for any possible decision that (US President Donald) Trump might make and will resist to it."

The Iran deal was made in 2015 under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. The agreement between Iran and China, France, Germany, Russia, the U.K. and the E-U stated that Tehran would end its nuclear weapons program in exchange for lifting of economic sanctions.

Two of America's closest allies in the Middle East, Israel and Saudi Arabia, are also Iran's fiercest enemies and are urging Trump to walk away from the deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently accused Iran of lying about its nuclear program. Critics countered the evidence Netanyahu presented was old.

Trump's European allies, however, are urging him to stay the course.

French President Emmanuel Macron was recently in Washington and tried to convince Trump to stick it out. Sunday, the UK's foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, arrived in Washington in a last-ditch effort to convince the White House to keep the deal. And even some of Trump's supporters in his own party are warning that it may be counter-productive to leave the deal.

MAC THORNBERRY REPRESENTATIVE FOR TEXAS "So, I'm not necessarily opposed to sticking with this deal forever, but you need to have a clear idea about next steps if we are going to pull out."

TOBY MUSE WASHINGTON DC "The countdown has started and the world will be waiting and watching to see what Trump does next Saturday. Toby Muse, CGTN, Washington."