Iranian president says he’s open to changes to Iran deal if sanctions removed

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday reportedly said he would consider small changes to a 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and other countries if the Trump administration lifts sanctions on his country. 

Rouhani expressed being open to “small changes, additions or amendments” to the agreement if the U.S. lifted sanctions on the country, according to Reuters. 

{mosads}President Trump in a Tuesday speech at the United Nations General Assembly, however, did not appear amenable to removing the economic penalties. 

“All nations have a duty to act. No responsible government should subsidies Iran’s bloodlust,” Trump said in the speech. “As long as Iran’s menacing behavior continues sanctions will not be lifted, they will be tightened.”

In his UN speech, President Trump warned Iran he would tighten sanctions if the country continues provocative behavior in the Middle East.

“All nations have a duty to act. No responsible government should subsidize Iran’s bloodlust.” https://t.co/bzOiCDvZnv pic.twitter.com/CzKWkIgAwG

— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) September 24, 2019

According to Reuters, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, unlike Rouhani, said that Tehran would not change the nuclear agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

”No changes to the JCPOA,” he said.

The U.S. last week slapped additional sanctions on Iran’s central bank in response to attacks on Saudi Arabian oil facilities. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have blamed the attacks, which were claimed by Houthi rebels in Yemen, on Iran. Tehran has denied involvement. 

Rouhani said the new sanctions show “America’s complete desperation” on Monday. 

Tensions between the two countries have escalated since Trump pulled the U.S. out of the nuclear agreement last year.