Iran Threatens US With ‘Expected And Unexpected’ Consequences If Trump Backs Out Of 2015 Nuclear Deal

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has warned the United States (US) to be ready for ‘expected and unexpected’ reactions if US President Donald Trump follows through with his threat to back out of an Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran, Reuters has reported.

“Our atomic energy organisation is fully prepared ... for actions that they expect and actions they do not expect,” Rouhani said referring to Trump’s claim of backing out of the 2015 deal.

The deal between Iran, US and five other nations in 2015 had effectively opened up Iran to the world trade by waiving off trade sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran’s Uranium enrichment facilities. Iran’s economy is heavily dependant on oil trade and the sanctions had hit it hard with only a few countries, including India, still engaged in trade with Iran after the sanctions.

Trump has repeatedly called the nuclear deal the worst deal ever negotiated and has asserted that he wouldn’t sign a sanctions waiver when it comes for renewal on 12 May unless Iran agrees to another set of curbs.

“Iran has several options if the United States leaves the nuclear deal. Tehran’s reaction to America’s withdrawal of the deal will be unpleasant,” Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by the Iranian state media.

Meanwhile, Iranian Rial plunged to an all-time low on 9 April at the prospect of the economy facing sanctions again. Sanctions on Iran have the potential to further drive up oil prices as Iranian supply of oil would be cut down drastically.