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2nd LD: Iran vows to retaliate if U.S. seeks to break nuclear deal

Xinhua, June 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday that if the U.S. leaders want to break the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or the nuclear deal, the Islamic republic will retaliate.

"The pros and cons of the JCPOA are exaggerating" over its merits and limits, Khamenei said, adding that "it has some porosities and loopholes which have been misused by the enemy."

The other side was committed to remove the sanctions against Iran and to lift bans on Iran's banking transactions with the world, which have not been implemented by them, he said in a meeting with senior Iranian administrative, legislative and judiciary officials.

"The Americans have not fulfilled major part of their commitments, but we took the preliminary steps, suspended 20 percent uranium enrichment and shut down Fordow (enrichment site) and Arak (heavy water) reactor," he added.

The Iranian top leader emphasized that "we won't break the JCPOA. But if the other side seeks to break it, as some candidates in the U.S. presidential elections threaten to tear it to pieces, we will set it ablaze."

Iran and the world powers reached a deal over the former's controversial nuclear program last year which was implemented in January.

Under the deal, Iran quit major part of its nuclear program in return for limited lift of sanctions against its energy and financial sectors.

Khamenei also said that the enemy plots to hinder Iran's progress, and "stop or eliminate the capabilities of the Islamic republic," according to Press TV.

"I have repeatedly reiterated that the country must grow in power and that we must promote our potentialities. It is only then that Iranian officials can expect the nation to have peace of mind," he was quoted as saying.

Khamenei last week echoed fiery remarks against the U.S., saying that Washington's policies and its threats against Iran remain constant even after the nuclear deal.

He also said that the U.S. is the "enemy" of the Islamic revolution of Iran and should not be trusted. Endit