Iran Nuclear Deal Under Trump: Rouhani Says Accord Cannot Be Reversed By Republican President-Elect

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday that the U.S. election results would not affect Tehran’s policies and that there was “no possibility” of its nuclear deal being overturned by President-elect Donald Trump, despite the latter’s position on the issue, state news agency IRNA reported.

“Iran’s understanding in the nuclear deal was that the accord was not concluded with one country or government but was approved by a resolution of the UN Security Council and there is no possibility that it can be changed by a single government,” Rouhani addressed his cabinet, according to state television.

Last year, six world powers signed an accord lifting international sanctions on Iran in exchange for guarantees that the country would not pursue a nuclear weapons capability. This move had been repeatedly termed “disastrous” by Trump during his election campaign, who had maintained that it would be his “number one priority” to dismantle the agreement if he became the president.

Even as a moderate who has attempted to forge ties with the West, Rouhani said the U.S. was losing its standing in the world because of its “wrong policies.”

“The results of the U.S. election have no effect on the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Rouhani was reported as saying. “Iran’s policy for constructive engagement with the world and the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions have made our economic relations with all countries expanding and irreversible.”

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released its latest quarterly report Wednesday, confirming that Iran was sticking to its commitments under the accord. It said Iran has not enriched uranium above low purities, kept its uranium stockpile below acceptable levels and “has not pursued the construction” of a heavy water reactor at Arak, which could have given the country weapons-grade plutonium.

However, the report also showed that Tehran’s stock of heavy water had risen to 130.1 tons — 220 pounds above the permissible 130 tons. This is the second time that Iran has exceeded the limit and IAEA chief Yukiya Amano “expressed concern” to Iran.

Tehran has promised to transfer 5 tons outside the country, the report said. A senior official in Vienna said this is expected to happen “within days,” according to Agence France-Presse.