Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday told the United Nations General Assembly that the Persian Gulf region “is on the edge of collapse, as a single blunder can fuel a big fire.” The official added that the US should withdraw its troops from the region because peace can only be assured by countries in the region and not by intervention of the US government, which he accused of engaging in “merciless economic terrorism” against Iran.
Rouhani urged Washington to lift its sanctions on the country in order to “open the way for the start of negotiations” between the two countries. Tensions between Iran and the US have risen dramatically since Washington abandoned the 2015 Iran nuclear deal last year and reimposed sanctions. Iran began violating the accord earlier this year, citing a perceived unwillingness by Europe to help the regime circumvent the US measures.
Read more: Iran president warns of a region ‘on the edge of collapse’
