'War Situation'

Iran Warns of 'War Situation' as Sanctions Resume

Rouhani likens current situation to war against Saddam

By Newser Editors and Wire Services

Demonstrators chant slogans during an annual rally in front of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, Iran, on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, to mark the 39th anniversary of the seizure of the embassy by militant Iranian students.   (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran greeted the re-imposition of US sanctions on Monday with air defense drills and a statement from President Hassan Rouhani that the nation faces a "war situation."


The sanctions end all economic benefits America had granted Tehran for its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, though Iran for now continues to abide by the accord that saw it limit its enrichment of uranium, the AP reports. While at the moment not threatening to resume higher enrichment, Iranian officials in recent months have made a point to warn that the controversial process could resume at any time, faster than before. The new American sanctions particularly hurt Iran's vital oil industry, a crucial source of hard currency for its anemic economy.

Iranian state television aired footage of air defense systems and anti-aircraft batteries in two-day military maneuvers underway across a vast stretch of the country's north. Rouhani pledged to government officials in comments aired on state TV that Iran would overcome the sanctions. "We are in the war situation," Rouhani said. "We are in the economic war situation. We are confronting a bullying enemy. We have to stand to win." He likened Iran's current situation to the country's 1980s war with Iraq. "Yesterday, Saddam was in front of us, today Trump is front of us. There is no difference. We must resist and win," he said. On Sunday, demonstrators gathered in front of the former US Embassy in Tehran to mark the 39th anniversary of its seizure by militants.