Iran won’t accept any changes to nuclear accord, says Rowhani

Iran will not accept any changes to the nuclear accord signed in Vienna in 2015, President Hassan Rowhani said on Wednesday.

“Not a single paragraph in the nuclear deal will change, nor will there be any new negotiators … Remarks about this are irrelevant and useless,” he told state television.

Rowhani’s comments came in response to calls from the US and European signatories for future talks to address issues including Iran’s Middle East policy and missile programme.

French President Emanuel Macron also called for Saudi Arabia to join negotiations, a bitter enemy of Tehran.

Former US president Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear agreement in 2018. Washington introduced a policy of “maximum pressure” to try and renegotiate the agreement and force Tehran to accept tougher conditions.

In response, as of 2019, Iran gradually stopped complying with its obligations under the deal, meant to curb Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for lifting economic sanctions.

New US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said he will work with international partners towards a stronger nuclear agreement with Iran.

However, the opportunities for doing so are limited, as Iran prepares to elect a new president in June. Incumbent Rowhani is unable to run again after two terms in office.

Any easing of US sanctions on Iran could strengthen moderate political forces in the upcoming vote.

Tehran has said that if the US returns to the nuclear deal and implements the agreement, Iran would also follow the accord.

According to Israeli estimates, Iran could produce enough weapons-grade uranium to build a nuclear bomb within 6 months.