Updated May 07, 2018 06:50:57

Iran's President has warned US President Donald Trump that America would "regret" any decision to pull out of the nuclear deal with world powers.

Mr Trump has said unless European allies rectify "flaws" in Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers by May 12 he will refuse to extend US sanctions relief for Iran.

"If [the US] opts to pull out of the nuclear deal, it will soon realise that this decision will become a historic regret for them," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.

Mr Rouhani assured Iranians that "no change will occur in our lives next week" regardless of Mr Trump's decision.

"We have plans to resist any decision by Trump on the nuclear accord," Mr Rouhani said in a speech carried live by state television.

"Orders have been issued to our atomic energy organisation … and to the economic sector to confront America's plots against our country.

"America is making a mistake if it leaves the nuclear accord."

The main points in the 2015 deal aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Britain, France and Germany remain committed to the nuclear accord but, in an effort to keep Washington in it, want to open talks on Iran's ballistic missile program, its nuclear activities beyond 2025 — when key provisions of the deal expire — and its role in Middle East crises such as Syria and Yemen.

"We will not negotiate with anyone about our weapons and defences, and we will make and store as many weapons, facilities and missiles as we need," Mr Rouhani said, reiterating a rejection by Iranian leaders of talks on Iran's missile program which Tehran says is defensive.

Iran has faced economic trouble in recent weeks, with some analysts blaming the uncertainty surrounding the accord.

Last week, Israel's Prime Minister unveiled what he said was a "half ton" of Iranian nuclear documents collected by Israeli intelligence that proved Iranian leaders covered up a nuclear weapons program before signing a deal with the international community in 2015.

Benjamin Netanyahu said the material showed Iran could not be trusted, and encouraged Mr Trump to withdraw from the deal next month.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister and senior nuclear negotiator, Abbas Araghchi, dismissed Mr Netanyahu's presentation as "childish and ridiculous".

Mr Trump is facing intense pressure from European allies not to pull out of the agreement, which offered Iran relief from crippling sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

AP/Reuters

Topics: world-politics, foreign-affairs, iran-islamic-republic-of, united-states

First posted May 07, 2018 00:42:03