Iran says 2025 ‘important year’ for nuclear issue

Iran, bracing for a possible reimposition of US President-elect Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy, said on Saturday that 2025 would be an important year for its nuclear issue.

In 2018, Trump reneged on a deal struck by his predecessor Barack Obama in 2015, in which Iran agreed to curb uranium enrichment, which can yield nuclear weapons material, in exchange for easing U.S. and U.N. economic sanctions.

“2025 will be an important year regarding the Iranian nuclear issue,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters in Beijing, adding in remarks carried by Iranian state TV that he had discussed the issue in talks with his Chinese counterpart.

However, he did not mention Trump by name, nor did he explain how the year might be significant.

A major concern among Iranian leaders may be that Trump could authorize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran’s nuclear sites while further tightening US sanctions on its key oil industry.

Iran’s rial hit a new all-time low against the US dollar on Saturday amid uncertainty over Trump’s arrival at the White House on January 20.

The riyal fell to 820,500 to the dollar on the unofficial market, compared with 808,500 on Friday, according to Bonbast.com, which reports on exchange rates. The website bazar360.com also said the dollar was selling for around 820,500 rials.

Also, faced with an inflation rate officially estimated at around 35%, Iranians who want to protect their savings are buying dollars, other hard currencies, gold or cryptocurrencies. The rial has fallen about 18% overall since Trump was elected in November.