Tehran, Apr 26 (Just News): Iran's President Hassan Rouhani rejected any hopes of rewriting a nuclear deal with world powers Wednesday, while his French counterpart vowed to US lawmakers that everything would be done to stop Iran ever acquiring atomic weapons.
In their different ways, Europe, Iran and Russia are all seeking to convince US President Donald Trump not to abandon the landmark 2015 deal that curbed Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
Trump has called the existing accord "insane" and "ridiculous", in part because its restrictions start to expire in 2025.
But addressing the US Congress at the end of his pomp-filled, three-day visit to Washington, French President Emmanuel Macron said: "Iran shall never possess any nuclear weapons. Not now. Not in five years. Not in 10 years. Never."
He has proposed an additional deal that extends Iran's nuclear restrictions while also curbing its ballistic missile programme and support for militias in the Middle East.
In Iran, Rouhani took a more aggressive tack, reiterating that the Islamic republic would not accept any changes to the deal.
"We have an agreement called the JCPOA," said Rouhani in a fiery speech, using its technical name.
"It will either last or not. If the JCPOA stays, it stays in full."
From Europe, a host of voices have urged Trump to build on the deal, rather than tear it up.
"There is one deal existing, it's working, it needs to be preserved," said EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini.
Moscow also reiterated its support, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters: "We believe that no alternative exists so far" to the nuclear deal, and demanding that Iran be involved in any further discussions.-AFP
(Justnews/ys/1130hr)
