Iran calls on US to ‘abandon warmongering polices’

ISTANBUL

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday called on the U.S. to “set aside warmongering polices,” local media reported.

“America must understand that bellicosity and warmongering don't work in their favor. Both [...] must be abandoned,” IRNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying.

His remarks came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump sacked his National Security Advisor John Bolton.

Meanwhile, commenting on Bolton’s dismissal, Iranian president’s office director said: "The departure of U.S. national security advisor John Bolton from the White House on Tuesday was a clear sign that Washington’s campaign of sanctions against Tehran was failing.

Tension has escalated between the U.S. and Iran after two oil tankers were attacked at the Strait of Hormuz in June. Washington held Tehran responsible for the attacks, an accusation denied by Iran.

Last week, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran will soon take a third step in reducing its commitments under the nuclear deal in response to European countries failing to meet their commitments.

The Iran nuclear accord, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 between Iran and Russia, China, France, the U.K. and the U.S. plus Germany.

Last year, however, Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal and intensified pressure on Tehran by re-imposing sanctions targeting the country’s energy and banking sectors.

Iran now insists that Europe must provide it additional economic support if they want to save the deal, after U.S. withdrew in May 2018 and slammed sanctions on Tehran.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara.