Defending the July 2015 nuclear deal while also putting out a firm line over the US, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that the agreement is based on mistrust of Washington.

In a speech on Monday, Zarif reiterated concerns by the Supreme Leader about US actions under the deal with the 5+1 Powers, implemented in January, while summarizing: “The two sides proceeded based on mutual mistrust and devised numerous [contingency] mechanisms.”

The Rouhani Government has hailed the deal as not only a landmark political achievement but also the catalyst for economic recovery. However, ongoing US sanctions have restricted Iran’s access to banking and financial markets and limited Tehran’s ability to strike trade and investment deals with international companies, especially from Europe.

Ayatollah Khamanei has repeatedly accused the US of dishonesty and attempts to undermine the regime, and has implicitly challenged the Government for weakness towards the Americans.

Zarif also effectively warned Donald Trump not to implement tougher measures, amid much advocacy in Washington for the new Administration to take a harder line.

The Foreign Minister said mechanisms in the deal made it “much easier” for Iran, if necessary, to roll back its implementation than for the “other side” to reimpose sanctions: “If a moment comes when the Americans would not perform the JCPOA, our reversibility would be amply swift.”

He said Iran could even step away from the deal, although he believed such a scenario is unlikely.

President Rouhani is under pressure to show economic achievements and success in his policy towards the US, ahead of his re-election bid in May’s ballot.