US President Donald Trump's decision to scrap the nuclear deal with Iran brought to light deeper divisions within Iran over the move and possible response options.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei gave a speech at his headquarters expressing massive opposition to the government of President Hassan Rouhani choosing to continue the agreement without the US.
Unlike Rouhani, Khamenei said he has no trust left in Western countries, including the UK, France and Germany.
“If you want to make an agreement, let us get practical guarantees, otherwise they will all do what America did,” Khamenei said.
He implicitly accused the government of ignoring his recommendations to move away from an agreement not signed by the US.
On the other hand, Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani defended Rouhani’s policy choices, calling for Iran to stay in the 2015 agreement, although he expressed doubt towards how European countries will act next after the US withdrawal.
Parliament alt-right members protested against Larijani's speech and took to the podium, setting fire to the American flag and a piece of paper symbolizing the nuclear deal.
In turn, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jaafari positively reviewed the US withdrawal.
But Iranian military commander Mohammed Baqari said that the American move “was not what Iran had hoped for.”
Rouhani told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macaron on Wednesday that “European countries have limited opportunities to stay within the agreement,” stressing the need to provide guarantees including oil sales, banking relations, investment and insurance, as well as explicit positions of foreign companies investing in Iran.
Tehran’s increased demand for guarantees is one of the multifaceted aftermaths brought about by the US withdrawal from the agreement.
Trump reiterated his threats to Iran, promising serious consequences if it resumed its nuclear program.
“I strongly advise the Iranians not to reinstate their nuclear program,” he told reporters at the White House, noting that his government would impose on Tehran harsh sanctions very soon.
Sanctions have been largely formed, and we will see what happens, Trump said.
The White House said new sanctions could be imposed on Iran probably next week at the earliest, ensuring that nuclear weapons are not developed.
The Europeans seek to save the agreement, calling on Tehran to abide by its terms despite the US withdrawal.
Macron has repeatedly condemned the US withdrawal as a mistake.
He expressed regret towards the US president's decision, saying that Europeans decided to stay committed to the 2015 agreement.
Also, British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson called on the United States not to impede others from implementing the nuclear agreement, calling it “vital” to his country's security.
