Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 6
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has said Saudi Arabia, along with Israel and US hardliners spared no effort to prevent his country and world powers from concluding a nuclear deal, which is meant to relieve his country from economic sanctions.
Rouhani's comments come amid the recent deterioration of relations between Tehran and Riyadh after the Saudis executed a prominent Shia cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, which was followed by angry Iranian protesters' attacks on Saudi embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad on Jan. 3. Right after the attacks on its diplomatic missions, the Saudi Arabia said it severed ties with the Islamic Republic.
"After the deal was achieved they continued their efforts to prevent the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) from being implemented," Iran's official IRNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying at a cabinet of ministers meeting in Tehran Jan. 6.
The JCPOA - a landmark nuclear deal reached July 14, 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 (the US, the UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany), is expected to be implemented by January's end. It will curb Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the removal of the earlier imposed economic sanctions on the country.
Rouhani further speaking about Riyadh's decision to severe diplomatic ties with Iran after the protestors stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran, said the move is aimed at covering up Saudi government's domestic problems and the failure of its regional policies, as well as undermining peace and stability in the region.
During his address, the Iranian president also accused the Saudi Arabia of continuing its "conspiracy."
"To this day they continue plotting, but Iranian people and government will achieve all their goals and success despite these obstacles," Rouhani said.
Iranian president went on to accuse the Saudi government of inspiring and intensifying a Sunni-Shiite conflict, adding that Riyadh is prompting Iranophobia.
"Providing financial and military support to the "regional terrorism", as well as establishing obstacles in front of Iraqi and Syrian governments' victory in recent years, and attacking Yemeni people are in line with the goal of deepening the difference between the Shiites and Sunnis, and rising tensions in the region," said Rouhani.
"The Saudis' regional policies are to develop terrorism, and to harm peace and stability in the region," he claimed.
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