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 U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to slap new sanctions on Iran, Russia and North Korea, although it was unclear how quickly the bill would make its way to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign into law or veto.
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.
"The Trump government, more than before, should be cautious and precise with their military approach in the Islamic revolution environment," Brigadier General Masoud Jazayeri, deputy chief of staff of Iran's armed forces was quoted by the Tasnim news site as saying on Wednesday.
"We will confront any American mischief with a response that will make them sorry," he said.
The head of the Guards was quoted as saying last week that Washington should move its bases and avoid "miscalculations" over new sanctions against Tehran. The United States has bases in Qatar and Kuwait across the Gulf from Iran, while the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based in nearby Bahrain.
On Tuesday, Trump issued a veiled threat against Iran, warning it to adhere to the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal it signed together with world powers or else face "big, big problems."
A week after certifying Iran as complying with the agreement negotiated by Democratic President Barack Obama, Trump has made it clear that he remains extremely wary of Tehran.