Renewed Hostile US Move Triggers Anger

A recent decision by outgoing US President Barack Obama to extend a national emergency status against Iran would further fuel Iranians' mistrust of the US government and scupper hopes of a rapprochement, a lawmaker said.

"The extension of the national emergency status while the JCPOA has been in place for a year and there is less than a week to go before the end of Obama's presidential term indicates that the hatred and problems between Iran and the US have not ended," Mohammad Jamali also told ICANA on Monday.

He was using an abbreviation that stands for the official title of the 2015 nuclear accord, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Jamali added that the move has fortified "the wall of distrust" between the two countries, which became arch foes after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution toppled the US-backed monarchical regime.

Iran negotiated the deal with six world powers, including the United States, to get relief from international sanctions in return for temporary curbs on its nuclear program.

Obama informed Congress of his decision in a letter on Friday, saying the national emergency, which was declared on March 15, 1995, "is to continue in effect beyond March 15, 2017", Press TV reported.

He claimed that despite Iran's full commitment to the nuclear pact, it still poses "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to the US.

"Since Implementation Day, the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] has repeatedly verified, and the Secretary of State [John Kerry] has confirmed, that Iran continues to meet its nuclear commitments pursuant to the JCPOA," Obama said in his notice.

"However, irrespective of the JCPOA, which continues to ensure that Iran's nuclear program is and remains exclusively peaceful, certain actions and policies of the government of Iran continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy and economy of the United States."

  Call for Reciprocal Move

Another lawmaker Davoud Mohammadi called for Iran's response to Obama's anti-Iran decision.

"Iran should pursue an active diplomacy and make a reciprocal move."

The National Emergencies Act requires the US president to extend a national emergency within 90 days of its anniversary date, before it is automatically terminated. In November, Obama extended a separate national emergency against Iran, which was originally declared by former US president, Jimmy Carter, on November 14, 1979. He also extended the state of emergency with respect to Libya, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Cuba and Venezuela.

A state of emergency gives the US president special powers, including the ability to seize property, summon the National Guard and hire and fire military officers at will.

The state of emergency also forms the basis for most US sanctions against other countries.