Iran warns of retaliation if U.S. breaches nuclear deal - Khamenei website
The U.S. House of Representatives re-authorized last week the Iran
Sanctions Act, or ISA, for 10 years. The law was first adopted in 1996
to punish investments in Iran's energy industry and deter Iran's pursuit
of nuclear weapons.
The Iran measure will expire at the end of
2016 if it is not renewed. The House bill must still be passed by the
Senate and signed by President Barack Obama to become law.
Iran
and world powers concluded the nuclear agreement, also known as JCPOA,
last year. It imposed curbs on Iran's nuclear program in return for
easing sanctions that have badly hurt its economy.
"The current U.S. government has breached the nuclear deal in many
occasions," Khamenei said, addressing a gathering of members of the
Revolutionary Guards, according to his website.
"The latest is
extension of sanctions for 10 years, that if it happens, would surely be
against JCPOA, and the Islamic Republic would definitely react to it."
The
U.S. lawmakers passed the bill one week after Republican Donald Trump
was elected U.S. president. Republicans in Congress unanimously opposed
the agreement, along with about two dozen Democrats, and Trump has also
criticized it.
Lawmakers from both parties said they hoped
bipartisan support for a tough line against Iran would continue under
the new president.
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