Iranian president calls talk of scrapping nuclear deal ‘meaningless’

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says he doesn’t think President-elect Donald Trump “can do much” about his nation’s nuclear deal, slamming “meaningless” talks about ripping up the agreement.

“The president-elect has shown he is not happy about the nuclear deal, calling it the worst deal ever signed. This is only empty talk,” Rouhani said Tuesday at a press conference, according to Reuters. 

During his campaign, Trump frequently said he would either scrap Iran’s nuclear agreement — which was negotiated with the U.S. and international powers to curb Iran’s nuclear program — or renegotiate to obtain a better deal.

{mosads}But Rouhani on Tuesday reiterated previous comments that Trump cannot tear up the agreement.

“I am optimistic about the future of the nuclear deal … (It) is good for the United States, but he (Trump) doesn’t understand,” he said.

Incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus refused to say over the weekend whether the new administration would get rid of the agreement.

“I think it’s on life support. I’ll put it that way. But I’m not here to declare one way or another ultimately where this is going to go,” he told ABC’s “This Week.”