TheCable

Abbas Araqchi, deputy foreign minister of Iran, on Wednesday said the country will respond if the US passes new sanctions.

He said this in reaction to a proposed plan to slam new sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea.

Araqchi, who is also a top nuclear negotiator, however, did not specify what actions Iran would take.

“New sanctions being discussed in the US Congress are “a completely clear hostile act and against the Islamic Republic of Iran and … will be met with a definitive response,” Araqchi said.

“New sanctions could reduce the benefits that Iran receives from the nuclear agreement.

“America has committed to follow the nuclear deal with goodwill and in a productive environment and to hold back from any steps that would have an effect on the successful execution of the deal.”

The US house of representatives had on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to put up new sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea.

The Republican-controlled senate passed an earlier version of the bill with near-unanimous support.

It was unclear how quickly the bill would make its way to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign into law or veto.

Separately, Trump issued a veiled threat against Iran on Tuesday, warning Tehran to adhere to the terms of a nuclear deal with world powers or else face “big, big problems”.