Iran Pres: Will Respond to US Law      07/26 06:10

   TEHRAN, Iran (AP) -- Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Wednesday his 
country will respond if a bill in the U.S. Congress imposing sanctions on 
people involved in Iran's ballistic missile program becomes law.

   The House of Representatives passed the bill on Tuesday and it now goes to 
the Senate.

   Without giving details, Rouhani said in a Wednesday cabinet meeting 
broadcast by state TV that Iran will "take any action that is necessary for the 
country's expedience and interests" and show "reciprocal" reaction to the law.

   The U.S. legislation would impose mandatory penalties on people involved in 
Iran's ballistic missile program and anyone who does business with them. The 
measure would also apply terrorism sanctions to Iran's prestigious 
Revolutionary Guard and enforce an arms embargo. Democrats said the new 
sanctions would not conflict with the landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran 
and world powers.

   However, deputy foreign minister and senior Iranian negotiator Abbas 
Araghchi said Wednesday the bill could "affect successful implementation" of 
the agreement and reduce Iran's benefits from it.

   "If the enemy breaches parts of the deal, we will breach parts of it," 
Rouhani said. "If they breach the entire deal, we will breach it in its 
entirety."

   "We will reinforce our whole defensive weapons without paying attention to 
what others say," he added.

   Meanwhile, the head of a parliamentary committee on national security and 
foreign policy, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said the  committee will discuss the U.S. 
legislation on Saturday in an urgent meeting.


(KA)