[ad_1]
COMBO – This combination of two images shows US President Donald Trump, left, July 22, 2018, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on February 6, 2018. The Trump Government announces the reimposition of all US sanctions on Iran The Trump administration announces the reimposition of all US sanctions against Iran lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal. (Associated Press)
TEHRAN, Iran – Iran welcomed the re-imposition of US sanctions on Monday by air defense exercises and President Hassan Rouhani's recognition of the "war situation", which has exacerbated tensions in the Middle East while the maximalist approach of the Islamic Republic by the United States is imperative.
The sanctions put an end to all the economic benefits that America has granted to Tehran for its nuclear deal with the world powers in 2015, although Iran continues to respect the agreement that limited enrichment of uranium. While for the moment did not threaten to resume a greater enrichment, Iranian officials have held a threatening message in recent months, which could resume anytime sooner than before.
The new US sanctions have particularly harmed the Iranian oil sector, an essential source of hard currency for its anemic economy. Its national currency has fallen over the past year, driving up prices, from cell phones to soaring drugs.
"Today, Iran is able to sell its oil and it will," promised Monday Rouhani at the entry into force of the sanctions.
Iranian television aired images of air defense systems and anti-aircraft batteries undergoing two-day military maneuvers underway across a vast expanse in the north of the country.
The exercise was to continue until Tuesday. General Habibillah Sayyari of the Iranian army said the country's national army and paramilitary revolutionary guards were taking part in the exercise.
Rouhani, at the same time, promised government officials in comments broadcast on state television that Iran would overcome the sanctions.
"We are in a war situation," Rouhani said. "We are in the economic war situation. We are facing an intimidating enemy. We have to stand up to win.
Iran is already plagued by an economic crisis. Its national currency, the rial, is now trading between 145,000 and 1 US dollar, down from the level of $ 40,500 to $ 1 a year earlier. Economic chaos triggered mass protests against the government late last year. Nearly 5,000 arrests have been reported and at least 25 people have been killed. Sporadic manifestations still continue.
The United States asserts that the sanctions are not aimed at overthrowing the government, but at persuading it to radically change its policies, including supporting regional militant groups and developing long-range ballistic missiles.
However, Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, and President John Bolton's National Security Advisor, both publicly declared their support for the overthrow of the Iranian theocratic government.
___
Jon Gambrell, a writer with the Associated Press, based in Dubai, UAE, contributed to this report.
Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, disseminated, rewritten or redistributed.
[ad_2]Source link
