Rouhani: If the US Congress's Resolution is Implemented, We Will Respond

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, presented the budget bill for the year 1396 to the Islamic Consultative Assembly. During his speech while presenting the bill, he defended his government's economic record and stated that if the 'resolution' of sanctions against Iran is implemented, Tehran will give a 'decisive response.' According to Iranian news agencies, Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday morning, December 14, in the Islamic Consultative Assembly that Iran will not violate the JCPOA and is 'determined' to implement the agreement reached with the six world powers. However, he added that from Iran's perspective, the 'Congress resolution' [the extension of the so-called 'D'Amato' sanctions] is a violation of the JCPOA, and 'the President of the United States is obliged to prevent its approval and especially its implementation using his powers.' According to Rouhani, the 'implementation' or 'even the signing of it by the President of the United States' is considered by Tehran to be 'against America's commitments and will face an appropriate reaction.' He did not provide further details about what he describes as Iran's response but mentioned that decisions will be made in the upcoming meeting of the JCPOA monitoring board. The Senate and the House of Representatives recently voted to extend the Iran sanctions law for another 10 years. This measure began in 1996 and is voted on for renewal in Congress every ten years. Previously, Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, described the extension of these sanctions as a violation of the JCPOA. However, John Kirby, the spokesperson for the US State Department, emphasized on Friday the Secretary of State's authority to remove nuclear-related sections of the sanctions law and stated that the extension of this law would not limit the US's ability to adhere to its commitments under the nuclear agreement. The Iranian President continued his remarks on the 'reaction' to the extension of the 1996 sanctions, stating that Iran is a 'strong and stable country' and that 'without its cooperation, no crisis in the region can be resolved, and with its cooperation, stability and security can be restored to the region.' The United States and many of its Western allies, along with major Arab countries, have always accused Tehran of being involved in major crises in West Asia, from supporting Bashar al-Assad's government to supporting rebels in Yemen. Iranian officials have repeatedly emphasized that they have sent 'advisors' to Syria at the request of the legitimate Syrian government. Tehran has denied sending weapons to the Yemeni rebels, which it has been accused of on several occasions. Hassan Rouhani also mentioned in another part of his speech in the Assembly that when his government began its work, Iran was 'in a special situation in terms of economy and foreign relations,' facing 'crisis conditions in some areas and many difficulties' and that 'inflation had risen above 40 percent.' The Iranian President added that he and his cabinet have managed to bring this inflation down to below 10 percent, which he described as 'an honor that will remain for the eleventh government.' This is the fourth and final budget in Hassan Rouhani's current four-year presidential term.