Rouhani: US Exit from JCPOA Could Cause Problems for Two to Three Months

In a closed session of the Iranian parliament discussing the potential consequences of the US exit from the JCPOA, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that this possible action could create "problems" for Iran for two or three months. According to ISNA news agency, Rouhani said on Tuesday, May 8, that "exceptional conditions" may arise at any time. He added, "We may be involved in that problem for two or three months, but we will overcome it." Rouhani's comments come as US President Donald Trump is set to announce the United States' decision regarding the future of the JCPOA on Tuesday evening, Iran time. On Monday, Rouhani had also referred to the potential US exit from the JCPOA as a "short-term dilemma" that the Islamic Republic could "successfully" navigate. He also stated that the government's currency program was "in line with preparations to cope" with the US exit from the JCPOA. Rouhani's remarks come amid reports that the government has been unsuccessful in controlling foreign currency prices despite government directives and police pressures, with the dollar reportedly reaching 7,000 tomans and significant increases in the value of currencies from neighboring countries, including the Turkish lira and Emirati dirham, against the Iranian currency. Experts have indicated that the return of US sanctions will create multiple problems for the Iranian economy. Meanwhile, the Iranian parliament held a closed session on Tuesday to examine the impacts of a potential US exit from the JCPOA. According to Behrooz Namati, a member of the parliament's presiding board, in this session, Ali Larijani, as the Speaker of the Parliament and a member of the Supreme National Security Council, explained various scenarios in response to a potential US exit from the JCPOA. Namati did not provide details on Larijani's remarks. European powers have made significant efforts in recent weeks to persuade Trump to remain in the JCPOA, even sending UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to the US for final consultations on this matter. However, the US President has decided to announce his decision ahead of the previously set deadline. Meanwhile, Ali Motahari, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, stated on Tuesday that if the US exits the JCPOA, Iran should give European countries a few months to provide "strong guarantees" that they will "stand against the US." He added, "If the Europeans want to keep us waiting for two or three years and keep us in limbo, I think it is better to exit the JCPOA within a month or two." Iranian officials have previously threatened that Iran's response to the US exit from the JCPOA would be severe, although they did not provide details. Additionally, Hossein Salami, the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards, reported that this body has suggested to the government to inform Western officials that Iran will exit the JCPOA and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and will resume its nuclear activities "indefinitely." The four conditions set by the US President for remaining in the nuclear agreement include "immediate access" for international inspectors to all sites and facilities in Iran, making nuclear restrictions permanent, guaranteeing that Iran will not approach nuclear weapons, and limiting Iran's ballistic missile program. Iranian officials have stated that they will not accept these conditions.