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No foreign power can militarily threaten Iran, says defence minister after US pulls out of nuclear deal

Iranian students gathered outside the former U.S. embassy in Tehran on Wednesday to protest President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal

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Iran cannot be militarily threatened by any foreign power, its defence minister said on Wednesday, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency, a day after the United States pulled out of Iran's 2015 international nuclear deal.

"Today, with attention to the defensive power of our country, we're in a situation that Islamic Iran cannot be militarily threatened by any foreign power," Amir Hatami said.

Hatami pointed to Iran's military role combating "takfiri" fighters in Iraq and Syria as a recent achievement of the Islamic Republic's armed forces. Officials in predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran often refer to Sunni Muslim radicals as "takfiris".

Earlier, the Iranian foreign ministry termed Trump’s decision to pull out of the nuclear deal as ‘hasty and rash’. The ministry said it was following with ''deep concern the dangerous developments'' resulting from Trump's decision. It said the nuclear agreement ''had contributed to Middle East peace''.

Iranian students gathered outside the former U.S. embassy in Tehran on Wednesday to protest President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, according to Fars News.

The students chanted "Death to America" and "The only demand is to burn the nuclear deal" and burned the American flag, according to Fars News.

The report did not indicate how many students attended the protest.

Younger, particularly urban Iranians, have wider concerns as their country is squeezed economically.

"I don't care what politicians do. They are all liars. But now I almost have no hope for more freedoms, social, cultural and even political," said Garshasb Amini, 19, in the central city of Yazd.

Iran's economy has continued to struggle despite the easing of sanctions from 2016. Average unemployment of 12 percent rises close to 30 percent among Iran's restless youth - more than 30 percent of Iran’s 80 million population are aged 18 to 30.

In late December, Iranians staged nationwide demonstrations over poor living standards, calling on Rouhani as well as top clerical leaders to step down.

For many, the picture looks even grimmer after Trump's decision and there is a risk the deal will collapse entirely even though European signatories are trying to hold it together.

"You know what? They did not have money to pay our salaries. Now it will be even worse ... God help us," said factory worker Mostafa, 38, in the northern city of Noshahr.

"I have not got my wage in the past two months. Mr. Rouhani promised more jobs ... but now I will be jobless."

Pressure will mount on the Iranian leadership when U.S. restrictions cut its oil exports that are the engine of Iran’s economy, raising the prospect of further unrest.

"Why should foreigners invest in Iran when we are trying to move our businesses to another country," said a businessman, who asked not to be named, in the holy Shi'ite city of Mashhad.

 

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