Iranian President Hassan Rouhani accused the US administration of using the Dollar as a weapon and demanded that the international community confront American “unilateralism.”
Rouhani’s comments came in an address at the summit of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Tuesday. The leader is partaking in the summit at a time his country is suffering economically due to the maximum pressure policy imposed by the Trump administration.
After an attack on Saudi oil installations, the US also sanctioned Iran’s central bank.
“The international community must confront America’s hostile and unilateralist approach by taking a definitive decision and effective actions,” Rouhani said, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Rouhani warned that the use of the dollar “as a weapon will lead to (economic terrorism),” a term used by the Iranian government in recent months to describe US sanctions.
On another note, Rouhani said Iran was prepared to make concessions to expand trade with the EAEU group, which includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
Before leaving for Armenia, Rouhani had pledged to discuss ways to establish economic and trade ties in a bid to end Iran's isolation caused by US economic sanctions which are looking to force Tehran to accept a new deal that includes regional security and its ballistic missile programs.
Rouhani vowed to establish economic progress by building economic relations and competition with the global economy. He said his country is looking forward to export 502 commodities to the five EAEU countries as of November.
The Iranian government says it wants to counter economic sanctions by relying on exports of non-oil goods. Iran rejects any direct negotiations with the US administration unless Washington first lifts off economic sanctions.
On the other hand, the Trump administration insists on its “maximum pressure” policy to deter Tehran's aggressive behavior.