Iran sanctions: Rouhani defiant as US re-imposes measures

The decision to re-impose sanctions met fury in Iran

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has vowed to "break" swingeing sanctions re-imposed by the US targeting core parts of the economy.

The Trump administration is restoring all sanctions lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal in a bid to pressure Iran.

They will hit oil exports, shipping and banks, and make it difficult to do business with the oil-rich nation.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran must "act like a normal country, or see its economy crumble".

He told a press conference on Monday that more than 20 nations have already cut their oil intake from the Islamic Republic, and that exports have fallen by a million barrels a day.

Mr Rouhani earlier struck a defiant tone, saying Iran would "continue selling oil".

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"We will proudly break the sanctions," he told a meeting of economic officials.

European countries which are still party to the accord designed to curb Iran's nuclear activity say they will help businesses bypass the sanctions. But there are doubts about how successful this will be.

Even before the US sanctions were re-imposed, Iran's economy had had a difficult year, with Iran's currency, the rial, plummeting against the dollar, driving up the price of basic goods.

How did we get here?

US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear accord earlier this year, an agreement he called the "worst deal ever negotiated".

It offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for reducing its nuclear development. The global nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, says that Iran has complied with the agreement.

President Trump says that he wants to get Iran back to the negotiating table.

Mr Trump has taken a more aggressive approach to Iran than under Barack Obama

His administration also says it wants to stop what it calls Tehran's "malign" activities - including cyber attacks, ballistic missile tests, and support for terror groups and militias in the Middle East.

The president says his "maximum pressure" strategy is working. "[Iran] wanted to take over the whole Middle East. Right now they just want to survive," he told a rally in Tennessee, Reuters reported.

What could the impact be?

The US reinstated a raft of sanctions in August, but analysts say this latest round is by far the most significant.

More than 700 individuals, entities, vessels and aircraft are now on the sanctions list, including major banks, oil exporters and shipping companies.

In addition, the Brussels-based Swift network for making international payments has confirmed it will cut off links with some Iranian banks, isolating Iran from the international financial system.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US aimed to reduce Iranian oil sales to zero.

He confirmed on Monday that the Trump administration has granted temporary exemptions to eight countries to continue importing Iranian oil - China, India, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey.

Hardliners smell blood but Rouhani is safe for now

By Kasra Naji, Special Correspondent, BBC Persian

The sweeping US sanctions will be debilitating to the government's day-to-day running of the country.

They will also be disastrous for ordinary people who are already reeling under the weight of rising prices, shortages, and the rapidly falling value of the rial.

All this will put President Rouhani under considerable strain.

He wanted to steer the country toward a more moderate disposition.

The hardliners are smelling blood. They see a chance to force a change of government, arguing extraordinary conditions in the country require extraordinary solutions.

They have been pressing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to dismiss Mr Rouhani for incompetence and hand over the administration of the country to them.

But the Iranian leader is not so sure. Taking on the running of the country under these conditions could be a poisoned chalice for him and for the hardliners he supports.

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How do other countries see the sanctions?

The UK, Germany and France - which are among the five countries still committed to the nuclear pact - have all objected to the sanctions.

They have promised to support European firms that do "legitimate business" with Iran and have set up an alternative payment mechanism - or Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) - that will help companies trade without facing US penalties.

However, analysts doubt this will materially lessen the impact of sanctions on Iran, given the importance of the US to global trade.

Mr Pompeo said more than 100 big international companies had withdrawn from Iran because of the looming sanctions.

Even if firms can use the SPV, any US company it does business with could face punishment.

Another signatory to the nuclear deal, China, has said it regrets the re-imposition of sanctions and that its lawful trade with Iran should be respected.

Israel - Iran's long-time foe in the Middle East - called the move a "courageous, determined and important decision".

"I think this contributes to stability and security and peace," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.