Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says his country doesn't want a war with the United States and believes America will "sooner or later" support the
Rouhani told a wide-ranging news conference that the US decision to pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal in May was "a mistake" because there are no benefits for the people of the United States, Iran, Europe or any other country.
Iran's leader stressed his nation wanted to avoid conflict with the US. Source: AP
He said the US made a "second mistake" in holding a meeting of the UN Security Council earlier on Wednesday during which 14 countries either directly or indirectly backed the nuclear agreement between Iran, the US and five other major powers.
Only US President Donald Trump, who chaired the session, spoke against the deal known as the JCPOA and appeared isolated as a result, Rouhani said.
Responding to a question about whether the harsh language that Trump and his top official have used about Iran might lead to war, Rouhani said that Iran since the 1979 revolution "has been subjected to that type of language many times."
World leaders gathered for the 73rd annual meeting at the UN headquarters in Manhattan. Source: AP
But he said Trump administration officials "speak with a different style, presumably because they're new to politics."
As for war, Rouhani said, "We do not wish to go to war with American forces anywhere in the region. We do not wish to attack them. We do not wish to increase tensions - none of the above."
"But we ask the United States of America to adhere to laws and respect national sovereignty of nations," he said.
