Iran will duly respond to US extension of sanctions: Velayati

A senior adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution says a recent US Senate vote to extend the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) violates last year’s nuclear agreement signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, vowing a tough and appropriate response by the Islamic Republic to the move.

“If it (ISA) becomes definitive and the US president signs it, the Islamic Republic will definitely give a tough and appropriate response,” Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser on international affairs to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said at a press conference in Tehran on Tuesday.

The US Senate on December 1 voted to extend ISA for another 10 years.

Velayati also pointed to the visit by Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to Iran this week and said Tehran and Moscow are determined to help the Syrian government defeat terrorist groups and take full control of the strategic northwestern city of Aleppo, located some 355 kilometers north of the capital, Damascus.

Iran and Russia have common views on Syria and believe that the Arab country’s territorial integrity must be protected, he said, adding that both Moscow and Tehran oppose the disintegration of Syria.

“Terrorists, particularly the al-Nusra Front (which has changed its name to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham), must be annihilated and Syrian cities must certainly be liberated,” the Iranian official said.

Moscow has been helping Damascus in the fight against terrorism with Russian warplanes pounding the positions of terrorists in Syria since September 30, 2015, upon a formal request from Damascus. Iran has also been providing military advisory assistance to the Syrian government in its campaign against terrorism.

The senior adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution further described as “important” a recent move by Russia and China to veto a UN Security Council resolution, drafted by New Zealand, Egypt and Spain, which would have mandated a seven-day ceasefire in Syria’s Aleppo.

On Monday, Russia stated that a truce would only permit the militants to regroup and that the subject requires further talks between Russia and the US. 

“It was an important move because it was a prelude to Syria’s partition,” the senior Iranian official said.

EA