Iranian President Rouhani lashes out at United States as Iran marks Nuclear Day

Published
13
Hassan Rouhani is briefed about nuclear achievements during a ceremony in Tehran to mark "National Nuclear Day". —AP
Hassan Rouhani is briefed about nuclear achievements during a ceremony in Tehran to mark "National Nuclear Day". —AP
Hassan Rouhani attends a ceremony to mark National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran. —AFP
Hassan Rouhani attends a ceremony to mark National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran. —AFP

Iran's president lashed out at the United States on Monday as Iran marked “National Nuclear Day,” dedicated to its achievements in nuclear technology.

Hassan Rouhani said that despite many attempts, the US has “failed to destroy” the landmark 2015 deal between Iran and world powers.

Rouhani also mocked President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly described the nuclear agreement as “bad.” Trump extended sanctions waivers in January but has declined to re-certify the nuclear deal.

“They spent huge amounts of dollars and talked a lot, and posted so many tweets, thinking that this building would shake with tweets,” Rouhani said of the Trump administration. His speech was broadcast live on Iranian state TV.

The nuclear agreement curbed Tehran's controversial nuclear enrichment program in exchange for relief from international sanctions.

Rouhani reaffirmed his government's commitment to the deal and said Iran would not be the first to violate it. He also stressed Iran is ready to quickly revert to the situation before the deal, should the US abandon it.

“If they breach the deal, they will see its impact within a week or less than a week,” Rouhani said.

The spokesman for Iran's Atomic Agency, Behrouz Kamalvandi, claimed that should the deal collapse, Iran would be able to restart the enrichment program and enrich uranium to the level of 20 per cent within two days. Weapons-grade uranium is 90 percent enriched.

Rouhani on Monday also unveiled dozens of Iran's purported nuclear achievements, including a centrifuge for use in the oil industry and a laser spectrometer.

Iran often boasts of technological achievements which are impossible to independently verify.

In his speech, Rouhani urged Arab countries in the Mideast many of them US allies to stop cooperating with Washington and turn to each other instead.

“Trust your nation's powers and the power of regional nations,” he said. “Let's stand together.”

Opinion

Editorial

Fixing bond markets
01 Oct, 2026

Fixing bond markets

THE plan to deepen the domestic local currency bond market by allowing the public to trade government securities...
Call centre rackets
01 Oct, 2026

Call centre rackets

A NUMBER of recent raids conducted by the authorities in different cities point to the growing threat fraudulent ...
Homeward bound
01 Oct, 2026

Homeward bound

FIVE months after Somali pirates captured an oil tanker carrying a 19-member multinational crew, Somali maritime...
Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...