US will regret nuke pact violation: Hassan Rouhani

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani here on Saturday warned the United States against reneging from the nuclear pact. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal — was a notable foreign policy achievement of the Obama administration. The deal, struck in 2015 between Iran and six world powers — the US, the UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany — lifted economic sanctions on Tehran, and in return put limitations on its controversial nuclear energy programme.

In his address to a strategic community organised by a think-tank, the Iranian President said that the power and veto at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has become associated with the might of nuclear weapons. Hes said that wars, aggressions, terrorism will continue to exist till all countries and people work for fairness and justice.

Rouhani said his country will adhere to the terms of the nuclear deal till 'the last breath', but warned that the US will 'regret' if the pact was broken. His comments came after US President Donald Trump had threatened to pull out of the deal. He said the time for 'haggling' by President Trump is over and negotiating after the deal is signed is 'ridiculous'.

"The US is not dealing with Iran alone on the issue of nuclear pact, but also with the UNSC, which has approved the pact," Rouhani said.

Backing New Delhi's quest for a permanent seat in the UNSC, Rouhani asked why India, a nation with population of 1.3 billion, was not a member of the powerful club.

"Why doesn't India, with a population of 1.3 billion, have veto rights? Those who had atomic bombs were given veto rights," Rouhani said emphasising on having ethics in foreign policy as against military might.

Hitting out at the US, Rouhani said many issues in today's world have risen out of miscalculation and Washington has constantly resorted to make mistakes with regard to Tehran.