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Published 12:08 IST, September 26th 2019

Hassan Rouhani: Gulf region is on the edge of collapse

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani during the UN General Assembly used the opportunity to warn that the issue of security in the Persian Gulf region is sensitive.

Reported by: Pragya Puri
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On September 26, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani during the UN General Assembly used the opportunity to warn that the issue of security in the Persian Gulf region is sensitive and could lead to further escalations with ‘single blunder’ and the peace can be maintained only by the countries present in the region. He further added that the situation will only get worse with US intervention or with Washington’s ‘merciless economic intervention’. He warned that the Gulf region is "on the edge of collapse". The response was against the US sanctions imposed on the country. 

Iran's President accuses the US

The Iranian President during his speech accused the United States of participating in “international piracy” against Iran with its reformed economic sanctions imposed on the country. The re-imposition came after Washington made an exit from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The speech of the Iranian President was highly anticipated by the leaders of the world and the international media. Rouhani in his speech said that “Tehran “will never negotiate with an enemy that seeks to make Iran surrender with the weapon of poverty,” he further added, “Stop the sanctions so as to open the way for the start of negotiations.”

READ: Macron Says Conditions Ripe For Iran-US Talks As Tensions Run High

Iran's response to the US sanctions

The speech was in response to the recently announced additional US sanctions by the  US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Iran’s ability to sell oil . The US Secretary also imposed penalties on six Chinese companies for trading Iranian crude oil. In his interview during an event for United Against a Nuclear Iran, he said, “We’re telling China and all nations, know that we will sanction every violation of sanctionable activity,”. Subsequently, a group of lobbyists at the UN headquarters spoke against the nuclear deal. There is escalating tension in the Middle East due to nuclear deal unfolding under the US pressure, at the same time Iran seeks to expand its nuclear enrichment programmes. The rising tension is progressing towards direct conflict, a situation that all the countries of the Middle East including the rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia want to avoid. In order to keep the situation stable, the United Nations immediately deployed its military reinforcements and increased the security presence in the Gulf Region. 

READ: Saudi Prince Holds Talks With Iraqi PM On Oil Attacks & Border Tension

Trump calls Iran, 'greatest threat'

President Trump in his speech during the UN Assembly called Iran as “one of the greatest threats” to the world. On the other hand, Iranian President called US interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria as a failure and Washington has also failed to “resolve the more sophisticated issues” making conditions worse in the Middle East. He also said on Saturday that, “Security shall not be supplied with American weapons and intervention”. He also added that “Security cannot be purchased or supplied by foreign governments.”

READ: Saudi Arabia's Aramco Plants Remain A Potential Target: Houthis

             Saudi Arabia Blocking Approval Of UN Oceans Report: Participants

Updated 20:10 IST, September 26th 2019

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