We won’t bow to pressure from Trump, says Iran

President Hassan Rouhani of Iran says his country will not give in to pressure from US.

He said this in reaction to President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran.

Speaking on state television, Rouhani said Trump’s action on the international deal was “appalling and illegal” and had hurt America’s global reputation.

He said Iran maintained the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

According to reports, there was a mass protest by traders against the sharp fall in the value of Iran’s national currency.

Defending his economic record, Rouhani said the government’s income had not been affected in recent months, and the fall in the rial was the result of “foreign media propaganda”.

“Even in the worst case, I promise that the basic needs of Iranians will be provided. We have enough sugar, wheat, and cooking oil. We have enough foreign currency to inject into the market,” he said.

“Withdrawal was the worst decision he (Trump) could make. It was appalling. It hurt America’s global reputation.”

Washington is to start reimposing economic penalties on Tehran in coming months after Trump quit an agreement between major world powers and Iran in which sanctions were lifted in return for curbs on its nuclear program.

This may cut Iran’s hard currency earnings from oil exports, and the prospect is triggering a panicked flight of Iranians’ savings from the rial into dollar.