Speaking in a cabinet session on Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani said, “The enemies are seeking to create insecurity in the region, and this is why they breached our borders, for which they received a strong response”.
“On the other hand, they seized the Iranian tanker, which was a very cheap, wrong move,” he continued.
“The British unjustifiably seized the tanker in territorial waters of Spain where they occupy, as well as Gibraltar,” he said, adding that the territory belongs to Spain, and a government that has occupied the region has done the cheap act, while the people of Spain are opposed to it.
He continued, “We must all work hard to ensure full security in shipping lines throughout the world, and I tell the British that they are the initiator of insecurity and you will understand its consequences later”.
Dr. Rouhani added, “Of course, it is possible that the British have done this at the order of the US or the so-called B-Team; but it’s still a wrong move, not to mention that we know that there is no integrity inside the UK, and there is no integrated government and parliament. In such a chaos and frustration, seizing the Iranian tanker was a stupid move”.
He went on to describe the recent US developments very interesting and ridiculous, saying, “The United States’ recent developments are hypocrisy. On the one hand, they describe the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) a very bad deal and withdraw from it without any reason, and on the other hand, they all express concern about Iran curbing some of its commitments; but it is the US that we need to worry about, because it has violated the entire deal”.
“They have called the Board of Governors extraordinary meeting, complaining that Iran has reduced some of its commitments under the deal. This is a funny story,” he said.
The President added, “They do not provide any reason for preventing Iran’s enrichment, only saying that it is bad, or Iran’s intentions are bad. But they cannot say why it is bad, or why are they themselves are doing it”.
“The only country that has done bad enrichment and used atomic weapons is advising others, considering itself the righteous,” he said.
Dr. Rouhani stated, “Is enrichment, which leads to the construction of fuel for a power reactor, and satisfies people's needs for sweetening water or providing electricity, leading medical practices and the production of radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment of diseases, and has thousands of peaceful applications in the field of technology science, bad for Iran and good for others?”
Stating that the Islamic Republic of Iran acts within the framework of the JCPOA, he said, “We did not violate the structure of the JCPOA; we gave you 14 months, and extended it for two other months”.
“Of course, it is possible that some may think differently about how Iran should react. We are doing our best to save the deal, because we know that it is important for the region and the world,” said Rouhani.
The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran also said, “Today, everybody is criticizing the USA and Trump for violating a deal that has been approved by the United Nations”.
He continued, “JCPOA is the symbol of Iran’s power of diplomacy and logic, and the United States’ isolation”.
“Today, our steps with regard to the JCPOA will be gradual but increasing. Our first goal is to save the deal and invite others to diplomacy, logic, morality, and international treaties and regulations,” he said.
Dr. Rouhani added, “United States’ speak of negotiation is definitely deceptive and incorrect. If they believe that negotiation is the way to settle the issues, they will have to lift the sanctions and return to their commitments”.