BEIRUT: US President Donald Trump is not fit for his job, the speaker of Iran’s parliament said on Wednesday, in Tehran’s most personal criticism since Trump’s decision to withdraw from a 2015 nuclear pact between Tehran and six world powers.
Trump pulled the United States out of the deal on Tuesday, raising the risk of conflict in the Middle East, upsetting European allies and casting uncertainty over global oil supplies.
“Trump does not have the mental capacity to deal with issues,” parliament speaker Ali Larijani told the assembly, broadcast live on state TV.
Members of parliament burned an American flag and a symbolic copy of the Iran deal, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as a session of parliament began. They also chanted “Death to America”.
“Trump’s abandoning of the nuclear deal was a diplomatic show … Iran has no obligation to honor its commitments under the current situation,” Larijani said. “It is obvious that Trump only understands the language of force.”
General Mohammad Baqeri, the chief of staff of Iran’s military, said Iran did not have to sign the deal. “But that arrogant country (America) did not even stand by its signature,” the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted him as saying.
President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday Iran would remain committed to the deal without Washington despite Trump’s decision to withdraw from it. The pact was designed to deny Tehran the ability to build nuclear weapons.
“If we achieve the deal’s goals in cooperation with other members of the deal, it will remain in place. … By exiting the deal, America has officially undermined its commitment to an international treaty,” Rouhani said in a televised speech.
“I have ordered the foreign ministry to negotiate with the European countries, China and Russia in coming weeks. If at the end of this short period we conclude that we can fully benefit from the JCPOA with the cooperation of all countries, the deal would remain,” he said.
Under the deal, struck between Iran, the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France and Germany, Tehran curbed its nuclear program in return for them lifting sanctions.
‘Shenanigans’
Trump’s decision sets the stage for a resurgence of political infighting within Iran’s complex power structure, Iranian officials told Reuters. It could tip the balance of power in favor of hardliners looking to constrain Rouhani’s ability to open up to the West.
“They will blame Rouhani. … They will continue their shenanigans at home and abroad. And they will have the US to blame for the failure of the economy,” said Abbas Milani, director of the Iranian Studies program at Stanford University.
Rouhani assured ordinary Iranians, frustrated by high unemployment and stagnant living standards, that Trump’s decision would have no impact on Iran’s oil-reliant economy.
“Our heroic people will not be affected by this psychological attack … Iran’s economic progress will continue. Our people should not be worried at all,” he said.
Iran’s ruling elite fears a revival of anti-government protests in January that revealed the establishment was vulnerable to popular anger fueled by economic hardship. At least 21 people were killed in the protests.
Tough statements
Trump said in a tougher-than-expected statement he would reimpose economic sanctions on Tehran immediately. His decision puts pressure on his European allies, which are key backers of the deal and are reluctant to join the United States in reimposing sanctions on Iran.
The US Treasury said in a statement on its website the United States would reimpose a wide array of Iran-related sanctions after the expiry of 90 and 180 day wind-down periods, including sanctions aimed at Iran’s oil sector and transactions with its central bank.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose hostility toward Washington is the glue that holds together Iran’s faction-ridden leadership, had said Iran would ‘shred’ the deal if the US pulled out.
Rouhani warned that Iran was ready to resume its curbed nuclear activities if Iran’s interests were not guaranteed under a deal without the United States.
“If needed, we will resume our nuclear enrichment at the industrial level without any limit,” Rouhani said. “From now on, everything depends on Iran’s national interests.”
Under the 2015 deal, Iran stopped producing 20 percent enriched uranium and gave up the majority of its stockpile in return for most international sanctions on it being lifted.
“In response to US persistent violations & unlawful withdrawal from the nuclear deal, as instructed by President Rouhani, I’ll spearhead a diplomatic effort to examine whether remaining JCPOA participants can ensure its full benefits for Iran. Outcome will determine our response,” Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said on Twitter.
Trump’s announcement was hailed by Washington’s principal allies in the Middle East, Israel and Saudi Arabia, both sworn foes of Iran.
