Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has insisted that it is the US which is isolated, even as he reshuffles his Cabinet to deal with an economic crisis and impending American sanctions.
Addressing a Parliamentary session considering his nominations of four Minister, Rouhani said:
It does not happen often that the US makes a decision and its traditional allies abandon it.
A year ago no one would have believed…that Europe would stand with Iran and against America. Russia, China, India, the European Union, and some African and Latin American countries are our friends. We have to work with them and attract investments….
In political, economic and social fields, we should all stand together to bring the United States to its knees.
American partners, notably in the European Union, have distanced themselves from the Trump Administration’s withdrawal in May from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the 5+1 Powers (US, UK, France, Germany, China, and Russia).
But the EU has struggled to protect companies who wish to maintain links with Tehran after comprehensive US sanctions, including on the energy and financial sectors, from November 5. South Korea and Japan are suspending imports of Iranian oil, adding to pressure from a reduction by China — Iran’s biggest customer — of its purchases.
Criticizing Rouhani over his handling of production, investment, trade, employment, and currency issues, Parliament dismissed the Economy and Labor ministers in August. Earlier this month, the Roads and Industry Ministers resigned.
Urging MPs to approve his nominees, Rouhani said, “Our main enemy, America, faces us with a drawn sword and we have to fight it and we have to unite. Regardless of factions….We are all part of the Iranian nation.”
He insisted, speaking of a 70% drop in the value of the Iranian rial this year, “Part of our economic problems has to do with the rate of exchange of hard currencies, but our foreign exchange reserves are better than in any of the past five years.”
The President’s appeal appeared to bring a political ceasefire: the Majlis approved academic Farhad Dejpasand, who is taking over as Economy Minister, and Rouhani’s three other nominees.
