Iran's Rouhani orders work on nuclear-powered ships

By Mohammad Murad Ahmad Abed

TEHRAN (AA) - Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday ordered the country’s Atomic Energy Organisation to start work on nuclear-powered ships as a response to a likely renewal of sanctions by the U.S.

The move came after the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to approve a 10-year extension of sanctions on Iran earlier this month, many of which are waived under the current nuclear deal between Washington and Tehran.

According to Iran's official news agency Irna, in a letter the country's president ordered director of the atomic organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, to "carry out the technical requirements to manufacture" the nuclear-powered ships.

Rouhani also asked the country's foreign ministry to take legal measures in the face of potential "violation of the deal".

On Nov. 24, Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the extension violates the nuclear deal and that Iran would respond if it becomes law.

In July 2015, Iran and the P5+1 group of nations (China, Russia, the U.S., France, Britain, and Germany) signed a landmark deal under which Tehran agreed to restrict its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of Western sanctions.