Rouhani: The Iranian people are angry with the U.S., not their own government and system

Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, on Wednesday, November 9, in a cabinet meeting, referred to the approaching time for the implementation of U.S. sanctions, primarily targeting Iran's oil sector, stating that "the people should firmly know that the government is not afraid of these U.S. threats." The United States exited the nuclear deal (JCPOA) in May after months of criticism over Iran's violations of the agreement, and the U.S. President ordered the reinstatement of sanctions against Iran that had been suspended under the deal in two 90-day and 180-day periods. Some of these sanctions, which limited the automotive industry, the trade of precious metals, and the Iranian government's access to dollars, were implemented in mid-August, and next week, on November 14, additional sanctions targeting mainly the oil and energy sectors will be reinstated. U.S. officials have declared their goal of reducing Iran's oil exports to zero, but have currently granted exemptions to some of their allies for importing oil from Iran. On Wednesday, Rouhani commented on this issue, saying: "Certainly, the U.S. will not succeed in this new conspiracy against Iran, as they are retreating step by step; first, they said they would bring oil exports to zero; then they said it wouldn't be possible to do so in November, maybe in a few months, and gradually they said they couldn't bring it to zero and wanted to reduce oil exports." The Iranian President remarked that "the Americans cannot carry out any of these actions," addressing U.S. officials: "You cannot cut off Iran's oil, nor can you bring it to the level you desire; you want to anger the Iranian people; of course, the Iranian nation is angry with the U.S. and its crimes, not with their own government and system." Rouhani's reference to the Iranian people's anger comes after numerous protests in recent months regarding living conditions among various labor and professional groups in Iran, which have been increasing. Among the consequences of the first round of new U.S. sanctions has been the collapse of the Iranian national currency, which on Wednesday reached a rate of 15,400 tomans per dollar. This has led many Iranian industries to face bankruptcy, and people are struggling even to find baby diapers. Recently, it has been reported that restaurants in Tehran have lost "30 to 70 percent" of their customers. Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran and a member of the Expediency Council, recently told the Iranian people: "Let us learn from the Yemenis how to resist against threats and sanctions. Instead of wearing a loincloth, they carry weapons and have a few pieces of dry bread in their hands, and the Saudis are helpless against them." Rouhani also stated in another part of his speech on Wednesday: "It may have been somewhat difficult for our people in the past few months, and it may be difficult in the coming months as well, but the government will do its utmost to alleviate the problems, and with God's grace and the help of the people, producers, exporters, and all economic activists, we will not allow this trend to continue."