Iran Maintains Right to Enrich Uranium for Peaceful Purposes - President Rouhani

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani stated that Iranians would not give in to pressure from US President Donald Trump and would defend their independence and values.

In a speech broadcast live on state TV, he called Washington's decision to abandon the agreement "appaling" and "illegal," adding that the US has been trying to overthrow the Islamic Republic since the revolution of 1979.

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According to the president, Iran reserves the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

Fears over Iran's possible renewal of its nuclear program were prompted by the US pullout from the nuclear agreement which confined Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of the UN's nuclear sanctions as well as additional restrictions introduced by the US and the EU. However, Trump vowed not only to reimpose sanctions but to introduce new ones, which triggered angry resentment from Tehran.

Earlier in June, media reports appeared that Iran intended to build a new nuclear reactor in Arak, the facility which in accordance with the JCPOA, had been rebuilt to satisfy concerns over the possible producing and reprocessing of weapons-grade plutonium.

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Tehran has repeatedly vowed to adhere to the nuclear deal, despite the US decision to withdraw from the agreement. However, several days ago Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that he did not rule out Tehran's withdrawal from the deal.

The JCPOA with Tehran was signed on July 14, 2015 by the European Union and the P5+1 group of countries — China, Germany, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.