Roundup: Iranian officials strongly condemn U.S. anti-Iran remarks, nuke deal exit

TEHRAN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Following the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal on Tuesday, the Iranian officials unanimously decried the move as well as U.S. President Donald Trump's anti-Iran remarks.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday Trump's anti-Iran remarks were "silly and absurd."

"He (Trump) threatened both the (Islamic) establishment and the Iranians. I announce on behalf of the Iranian nation: Mr. Trump, you cannot do anything," Khamenei said, according to his official website.

Khamenei also lashed out at the U.S. enmity with Iran, saying it "has no end."

"U.S.' problem with Iran was not just nuclear energy program. This was an excuse ... We signed JCPOA, but the U.S. enmity with Iran did not terminate," Khamenei said in a meeting with a group of Iranians.

"Now they are posing our presence in the region and Iran's missile program. If we accept (their demand over) these, they will pose other issues," he said, cited by Tasnim news agency.

The Iranian leader criticized the Iranian nuclear negotiators, saying that they failed to get enough guarantees from the United States upon signing the JCPOA, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

It is recommended that Iran continue the implementation of the JCPOA with the other five signatories, including Germany, France and Britain, the three that Khamenei said he does not trust in either.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani's commented on Tuesday that the Islamic republic will remain in the nuclear deal with other signatories of the JCPOA without the United States.

"From this time on, the nuclear deal is an accord between Iran and five countries," Rouhani said in live speech broadcast from state TV.

Rouhani said that he has asked the Iranian foreign minister to initiate negotiations with the European partners as well as China and Russia over the measures regarding the fate of the deal.

"Since now, we should examine how the remaining big powers in the accord would deal with it," Rouhani said, adding that "if the deal remains live, we can take steps for the world's peace and security."

"I am happy that an intruder (United States) has exited from the nuclear deal," he said.

Iran proved that it has been committed to its international obligations, Rouhani said, adding that "our experience shows that over the past 40 years the United States has never been reliable vis-a-vis its commitments."

Actually, the United States has never been bound to its nuclear deal obligations since it was implemented in January 2016, he said.

The JCPOA has not been a deal between Iran and the United States, but it was an international accord approved by the United Nations, said the Iranian president.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he will withdraw his country from the Iran nuclear deal, a decision that immediately drew global frustration and outcry.

Trump made the announcement in a televised speech from the White House, saying he will not sign the waiver of nuke-related sanctions against Iran, and will re-impose sanctions lifted under the accord against Tehran and nations it has business links with.

The Iranian Majlis (parliament) on Wednesday condemned the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 international nuclear deal.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Trump has staged "a diplomatic show" for more than a year over the withdrawal from the JCPOA.

"It seems that Trump does not have the mental capacity to deal with issues and the language of force is more effective for this person so that he could face the consequences of his arrogant characteristics," Larijani was quoted as saying.

Unless Europe, Russia and China fill this international vacuum, "the Islamic republic will bring him (Trump) to his senses with its nuclear measures," he said.

Larijani warned that if Iran does not achieve its objectives under JCPOA, Iran will follow its own interests regardless of the commitments to the deal.

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran needs to get fully ready for resuming all the country's nuclear activities and take countermeasures, he added.

The Iranian people are further required to stand by each other in the face of the "greedy, covetous and unscrupulous" enemy, he pointed out.

On Wednesday, a number of Iranian lawmakers, in a symbolic move, set fire to the JCPOA and the U.S. flag in the parliament to protest over the U.S. president's decision to pull his country out of the deal.

Additionally, Iran's top military commander on Wednesday urged for reliance on domestic sources and capacities after the U.S. exit of the deal.

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri denounced the U.S. government for failing to honor its commitments and scrapping the agreements it has already signed.

Iran has already learned that stability requires self-sufficiency and avoiding reliance on the JCPOA, he said.

"The last night experience (U.S. exit from JCPOA) indicated that although we should tactically follow certain sides, we ultimately need to stand on our own feet," he added.

The Iranian armed forces are ready to protect the country and also help the administration, Baqeri stressed.

Moreover, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday said that the U.S. exit from the JCPOA is a "good omen" for Iran.

Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari said the U.S. withdrawal "would have no determining impact on any area" of Iran's national interests.

Jafari called for boosting Iran's defense capabilities following the U.S. exit, saying the move proved that Washington is against Iran's defense and missile power and is using Iran's peaceful nuclear program just as an excuse.

"From now on, we, the armed forces, should pay more and deeper attention to enhancement of our defense power and pursue the main factors of our own power," Jafari was quoted as saying.

The U.S. exit from the JCPOA revealed that Iran's uranium enrichment program was only a pretext for mounting pressure on Iran, while the U.S. main problem with the Islamic republic is its defense and missile power and regional influence, he said.

Jafari also played down hopes about survival of the JCPOA with the European parties, saying Europe is affiliated with the United States and will likely stand with it. Enditem