IRAN Sanctions: Rouhani defiant as US re-imposes measures

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has vowed to “break” swingeing sanctions re-imposed by the US targeting core parts of the economy. The Trump administration is restoring all sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal in a bid to pressure Iran. They will hit oil exports, shipping and banks, and make it difficult to do business with […]

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has vowed to “break” swingeing sanctions re-imposed by the US targeting core parts of the economy.

The Trump administration is restoring all sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal in a bid to pressure Iran.

They will hit oil exports, shipping and banks, and make it difficult to do business with the oil-rich nation.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran must “act like a normal country, or see its economy crumble”.

He told a press conference on Monday that more than 20 nations have already cut their oil intake from the Islamic Republic, and that exports have fallen by a million barrels a day.

Mr Rouhani earlier struck a defiant tone, saying Iran would “continue selling oil”.

“We will proudly break the sanctions,” he told a meeting of economic officials.

European countries which are still party to the accord designed to curb Iran’s nuclear activity say they will help businesses bypass the sanctions. But there are doubts about how successful this will be.