IRNA – President Hassan Rouhani's recent speech in Majlis (Iranian Parliament) was in fact a message for global reprimand of US President Donald Trump, said the head of National Iranian American Council (NIAC) research center.


In an exclusive interview with IRNA in New York on Saturday, Reza Mar'ashi evaluated the sanctions policy of the US on Iran as 'unsuccessful', adding 'Rouhani's speech in Majlis last Tuesday was a message not only to the White House but also to Europe and the world to counteract Trump's unilateral policies.'

President Rouhani in his speech said, 'Iran, during the history, has been loyal to all its international commitments, and will continue to do so', adding that Iran will confidently and vigilantly safeguard the rights of the nation when dealing with disloyalties but has the power to go back to pre-JCPOA situation in a few hours.

NIAC member said most of the Iranian-Americans worry about the US's anti-Iranian policies, oppose them and want the POTUS to safeguard nuclear deal, and use diplomatic solutions to settle disagreements with Iran.

Mar'ashi added, 'They want President Trump to respect Iranian's will – the same will that opposes foreign interference and bloodshed.'

He said, 'At first, due to a wrong translation, many people in Washington thought President Rouhani had threatened to quit the nuclear deal, but after the correct and thorough translation became available, observers found out that Iran's priority is to safeguard the deal, but if the US keeps defaulting on its commitments, Iran has to respond readily.'

He also praised Senator Bernie Sanders to disagree with sanctions on Iran, saying, 'Senator Sanders was courageous enough to speak up, regardless of US interior policies, and say that destroying the nuclear deal with Iran and further countering with Iran can lead to other wars in the Middle East.'

The world in recent months has clearly seen that the Trump administration has ignored the international agreements such as Paris Agreement, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and agreement with Cuba.

Mar'ashi added that the nuclear deal, officilally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), can be a basis for diplomacy and dialogue between the US and Iran.