Iran: US sanctions undermine nuclear deal

by Rebecca Savransky - 08/03/17 7:52 AM ET

A ranking Iranian official said Thursday new U.S. sanctions are meant to derail the nuclear deal with Tehran.

“The main purpose of the United States in implementing the sanctions against Iran is to destroy the JCPOA,” Deputy Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araqchi said, according to CNN, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Tehran “will show a very clever reaction,” he added.

{mosads}Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi added that Iran “with due patience and wisdom will take measures toward [its] national security and people’s interests,” CNN reported, citing the state news agency IRNA.

President Trump on Wednesday signed legislation that imposes new sanctions on Russia.

The legislation also includes new penalties against Iran over its ballistic missile program and targets North Korea’s shipping industry, as well as other nations that used slave labor.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration certified Iran’s compliance with the nuclear agreement reached two years ago during former President Obama’s tenure. But the administration said Iran is “in default of the spirit” of the accord.

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