Hassan Rouhani Says America Will Regret Its Sanctions

Hours after the announcement of the first round of U.S. sanctions against Iran, the President of the Islamic Republic appeared on Iran's Channel 2 and reacted to these sanctions by stating that America would regret this action. Hassan Rouhani expressed on Monday night, August 6, that "if we work together unitedly, we will soon make America regret," adding: "If we can work and strive well with the world, the Americans will understand that sanctions cannot be effective and they will return sooner." According to Iranian news agencies, he deemed the simultaneous imposition of sanctions and the request for negotiations from Donald Trump, the President of the United States, as "meaningless." The U.S. President announced his readiness to meet with Iranian leaders on August 30, stating that he had "no conditions" in this regard. Mr. Rouhani compared the sanctions against Iran to a knife that, according to him, America has plunged into Iran's arm. He considered the first step for America to negotiate as lifting the sanctions and told America: "First, you must take the knife out." On Monday, Trump signed an executive order reinstating sanctions against Iran but once again welcomed negotiations with Islamic Republic officials to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement. The U.S. President stated that he remains ready to reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran that would address a wide range of what he called "the regime's malign behaviors, including ballistic missile programs and its support for terrorism." In his remarks, Hassan Rouhani accused the U.S. government of "exiting international commitments from Paris to trade commitments without negotiation." He invited Washington to negotiate for what he called "compensation," saying: "If the U.S. government is ready, let’s negotiate about the compensations that should have been paid to Iran since 1953. America owes Iran; it owes an apology and compensation." Rouhani's reference is to the coup of August 19, 1953, against the government of Mohammad Mossadegh, which the U.S. and Britain are accused of organizing. The Iranian President further criticized the negative impact of sanctions on the activities of international companies in Iran, stating: "The pressure is not only against Iran but against all foreign companies that are working with Iran." The next round of U.S. sanctions against Iran is set to be implemented from November 4 this year. Another part of Hassan Rouhani's remarks focused on the Iranian currency market, which has experienced severe fluctuations in recent months. He referred to a new currency package that is set to be operational from Tuesday, stating that the Central Bank's commitments in this new round are much less. According to the Iranian President, the list of essential goods eligible for receiving government currency, which will be announced to the Central Bank, will not be affected by currency fluctuations. Mr. Rouhani stated that the 4200 Toman exchange rate for essential goods will not change at least until the next Iranian year in Farvardin. He encouraged the Iranian people to make foreign currency deposits, stating that the interest on foreign currency accounts will now be calculated based on the deposited currency instead of the Rial. While the significant drop in the value of the Rial against foreign currencies and the increase in the prices of gold coins and other goods in recent weeks has led to a wave of protests in various cities in Iran, this is the first time Hassan Rouhani has come forward to respond and explain. Hassan Rouhani's remarks were immediately met with reactions from some critics, including Bahman Ahmadi Amoui, a journalist, who accused Mr. Rouhani of lying in a Twitter message. He wrote: "The good thing about Ahmadinejad was that he knew how to lie. Officially legitimizing lies in the Islamic Republic means this: Rouhani: Whatever Seif said, the exchange rate was three thousand Tomans, people were buying and selling it in the market at 2700 Tomans." In this context, Trump stated: "I hope everything goes well between us and Iran." Trump says Iran's situation and economy are rapidly deteriorating. Zarif: They cannot change Iran's policy; the country is in good condition. The first round of sanctions against Iran began with an executive order from Donald Trump. Bolton: Iran should accept the proposal to negotiate with the U.S. to avoid sanctions. Changing the game for "proxies"; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The Iranian crisis; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iranian crisis. Internet shutdown in Iran has exceeded 300 hours, reports of "evidence" of the killing of injured patients under treatment. Accounts from three witnesses about the situation in Isfahan province; "like war-torn areas." The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iranian crisis. Trump emphasized the "halt of executions in Iran": we do not know what will happen in the future. Trump announced an agreement to hold a meeting about Greenland in Davos.