Iran Vows Response to US Sanctions Bill

The Islamic Republic of Iran will certainly show a reciprocal reaction to the US Congress’ new measure, President Rouhani said at a cabinet session on Wednesday, citing the US House of Representatives’ move to pass a bill on fresh sanctions against Tehran.

His comments came after the Republican-controlled House passed a sweeping package of bills on Iran, Russia, and North Korea sanctions in a 419-3 vote, sending the legislation to the Senate for almost certain passage and likely making it veto-proof.

In the first step, the Iranian Parliament will take action against the US measure, President Rouhani noted, adding, "We will take any other steps we deem necessary” to protect the country’s interests.

"We… withstand the pressure and sanctions, and will take reciprocal action,” he stressed.

President Rouhani further noted that the anti-Iran sanctions in the US House’s bill are "very different” from those against Russia and North Korea, saying the sanctions on Iran are in fact a repetition of the previous ones.

He explained that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), has impaired the US ability to slap Iran with new sanctions or to take them to the UN Security Council.

"Such sanctions do not affect the Iranian nation, and would neither undermine the people’s resistance… nor change our methods and policies,” he went on to say.