Iran's Rouhani Warns US on Nuke Deal   04/24 06:09

   TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's president reiterated his warning against a U.S. 
pullout from the landmark nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers as 
meetings between President Donald Trump France's Emmanuel Macron got underway 
in Washington.

   Hassan Rouhani said the United States will face "grave" consequences if 
Washington decides to withdraw from the 2015 agreement that curbed Iran's 
controversial nuclear enrichment program in exchange for lifting international 
sanctions on the Mideast nation.

   "If someone wants to betray our nation and the deal, grave consequences will 
affect them," Rouhani told supporters in the city of Tabriz during a visit to 
the area. State TV broadcast the speech.

   The Iranian nation and government will "strongly resist" any plots by those 
who sit in the White House, he added but did not elaborate, only saying that 
Iran has prepared for "various scenarios" while it abided by its commitments 
under the deal.

   Also Tuesday, Ali Shamkahni, the secretary of the country's Supreme National 
Security Council, signaled that one option for Tehran would be to quit the 
nuclear non-proliferation treaty if Trump scraps the nuclear deal.

   "Signatory countries have right to quit if they feel their national 
interests are not safeguarded," Shamkhani said before leaving for a visit to 
Moscow. "This is one of the choices Iran has."

   He added that Tehran would consider any move by the U.S. to pull out of the 
accord or attempts to modify it as a "collapse" of the deal.

   Trump did not re-certify the deal in January but extended the main sanctions 
waivers and gave the Europeans until the next waiver deadline on May 12 to come 
up with fixes to the deal.


(KA)