Rouhani says US sanctions cost Iran $150 billion of revenue: Report

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani blamed Washington for all problems that have gripped country in past couple of years. According to Bloomberg, Rouhani said that US sanctions on Iran cost country about $150 billion in revenue and has hampered imports of medical and food supplies. Rouhani, in a statement to state television, said that country's ecomy has substantially declined ever since US President Donald Trump anunced his withdrawal from 2015 nuclear deal. 

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Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from Obama-era nuclear deal in 2018 calling agreement "rotten" and "decaying". As per reports, in last two years, inflation and unemployment have rapidly risen in country, while value of Iranian rial has dropped at a record pace. “If people want to curse anyone for problems and shortcomings in country, it’s White House,” Rouhani was quoted as saying by Bloomberg. 

Read: Trump Admin Stops Aid For Pro-democracy Groups In Belarus, Hong Kong And Iran

Iran-US tensions

Tensions between Iran and United States have been at an all-time high ever since Donald Trump became president in 2016. Tehran and Washington were at loggerheads earlier this year after US Army killed top Iranian commander General Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike in Baghdad. A couple of days later, Islamic Republic retaliated by firing rockets on US bases across Iraq. Trump administration recently reimposed all UN sanctions on Iran after failing to extend arms embargo on country in an unsuccessful UNSC vote last month. 

Read: Trump Signs Order To Restore UN Sanctions On Iran For 'role In Nuclear Escalation'

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(Im Credit: AP)