Move on nuclear curbs show Iran 'not weak', says Tehran lawmaker

Iran’s move to stop respecting some of the agreed limits on its nuclear deal proves that it is “not in a position of weakness”, a deputy speaker of the Iran parliament said on Sunday amid mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran. “The timely decision of the Islamic republic regarding its commitments in the (nuclear deal) showed that Iran is not in a position of weakness,” said Ali Mottahari, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Tehran announced Wednesday that it would stop respecting some of the curbs on its nuclear activities imposed under the landmark 2015 deal with world powers.

Earlier, Iran’s top commander had said that Tehran will not talk with the United States. This came a day after President Donald Trump said he’d like Iranian leaders to “call me.” Trump had told reporters, “What I would like to see with Iran, I would like to see them call me.”

There will be no negotiations with America,” Iranian media quoted Gen Yadollah Javani as saying. The Iranian commander also claimed the US would not dare take military action against Iran.

President Hassan Rouhani had said that Iran would no longer implement parts of the deal and threatened to go further if the remaining members of the pact failed to deliver sanctions relief to counterbalance Trump's renewed assault on the Iranian economy within 60 days.

Trump has also targeted Iran’s steel and mining sectors in his latest tough sanctions. Trump however said that he “someday” hoped to negotiate face-to-face with the Iranian regime. This came after Iran said it was suspending some limits set by a multinational nuclear deal on the one-year anniversary of Trump’s pull out from the accord.