No limits on enrichment as Iran steps further back from nuclear deal: State TV
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened sanctions against Baghdad on Sunday after Iraq's parliament called on US troops to leave the country. |
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Read: Trump's War Threats: Iran Will Respond To Any Further Threats
Speaking on Air Force One, Trump said that if Iraq asked US forces to leave and it was not done on a friendly basis, "we will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.”
Trump said Iraq would have to pay for the cost of the airbase. “We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s there," he said. "It cost billions of dollars to build, long before my time. We’re not leaving unless they pay us back for it."
Nader Hashemi, the Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver told Al Jazeera Trump's comments were cause for concern.
Read: Iraqi Parliament Passes Resolution Asking Gov't To Cancel Request For US Help
"This is someone who is completely surrounded by war hawks, is driven by his ego and is in a re-election campaign," Hashemi said. "I think he's calculating that this type of tough rhetoric plays well with his domestic base."
The president first raised the prospect of targeting Iranian cultural sites in a tweet on Saturday where he said the US had 52 targets in its sights. Speaking to reporters as he returned to Washington from a holiday in Florida, he repeated the threat.
Read: Pelosi Says Dems To Vote On A War Powers Resolution To Block Military Action Against Iran
“They’re allowed to kill our people," Trump said. "They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way."
Iran confirmed on Sunday it would further roll back its commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers but continue to cooperate with the United Nations nuclear watchdog, according to state television.
The station cited a government spokesman as saying Iran would not respect any limits set down in the pact on the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges it could use, which meant there would be no limits on its enrichment capacity, the level to which uranium could be enriched, or Iran's nuclear research and development.
Read: Iran's Information Minister: Trump Is "A Terrorist In A Suit"
These would from now on be based on Iran's technical needs. The spokesman said Iran's steps could be reversed if Washington lifted its sanctions on Tehran.
The station cited a government spokesman as saying Iran would not respect any limits set down in the pact on the number of uranium enrichment centrifuges it could use, which meant there would be no limits on its enrichment capacity, the level to which uranium could be enriched, or Iran's nuclear research and development.
Read: Iran's Information Minister: Trump Is "A Terrorist In A Suit"
These would from now on be based on Iran's technical needs. The spokesman said Iran's steps could be reversed if Washington lifted its sanctions on Tehran.
The three EU powers also highlighted the importance of de-escalating tensions in Iraq and Iran, and reaffirmed their determination to fight Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS).
The statement said in part: "We reaffirm our commitment to continuing the fight against Islamic State, which remains a priority. It is essential that we keep the coalition, in this regard. We call on the Iraqi authorities to continue to supply the necessary support to the coalition," the three said in a statement.
"We are ready to continue talks with all parties in order to contribute to de-escalating tensions and re-establishing stability in the region."
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to hold talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in this week as Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the US army will "pay the price" for killing Soleimani and al-Muhandis.
In his televised speech, Hezbollah Secretary General said: "The American army killed them and it will pay the price."
Soleimani’s Successor Warns Of Harsh Consequences In Aftermath Of IRGC Commander’s Assassinating By US
"The only just punishment is [to target] American military presence in the region: US military bases, US warships, each and every officer and soldier in the region," Nasrallah said.
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