Iran's president seeks to downplay US oil sanctions
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's president on Sunday tried to downplay US sanctions targeting the country's vital oil and gas sector that are set to be restored next month.
Speaking in Tehran University to mark the start of the academic year, Hassan Rouhani said the Nov. 4 sanctions "will have no effect," because "the US has already done whatever it wanted to do."
President Donald Trump's administration has been steadily restoring sanctions on Iran since he withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord in May. Iran has been grappling with an economic crisis in recent months, with its currency plunging to historic lows and sporadic protests breaking out.
