Rouhani says next US leader must cede to Iran demands

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UNITED NATIONS, United States, Sept 23, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani vowed Tuesday that the next US leader must accept Tehran’s
demands, ruling out compromise as Donald Trump vies for reelection.

“We are not a bargaining chip in US elections and domestic policy,”
Rouhani said in a virtual address to the UN General Assembly.

“Any US administration after the upcoming elections will have no choice
but to surrender to the resilience of the Iranian nation.”

Tensions have soared between the United States and Iran under Trump, who
pulled out of a nuclear accord negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama and
slapped sweeping sanctions on the country.

Joe Biden, Trump’s rival in November 3 elections, staunchly backed the
2015 nuclear deal but some experts around him believe he has leverage to
renegotiate it rather than simply rejoin it.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday also ruled out any
renegotiation of the 2015 accord, which he had brokered over exhaustive talks
with his then counterpart John Kerry.

“The United States can impose neither negotiations nor war on us. Life is
hard under sanctions. However, harder, is life without independence,” Rouhani
said.

“And for the world: Today is the time to say ‘no’ to bullying and
arrogance.

“The era of dominance and hegemony is long over. Our nations and children
deserve a better and safer world based on the rule of law.”