(Reuters) – Iran, bracing for a possible re-imposition of future U.S. President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy, said on Saturday that 2025 would be an significant year for its nuclear issue.
In 2018, Trump withdrew from the agreement reached by his predecessor Barack Obama in 2015, in which Iran agreed to limit the enrichment of uranium, which can be used to produce material for nuclear weapons, in exchange for the easing of US and UN economic sanctions.
“2025 will be an important year regarding the Iran nuclear issue,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters in Beijing, adding in remarks broadcast on Iranian state television that he had discussed the issue during talks with his Chinese counterpart.
But he did not mention Trump by name or explain what significance this year might have.
A major concern for Iranian leaders may be that Trump could authorize Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities while continuing to tighten U.S. sanctions on its key oil industry.
On Saturday, the Iranian rial hit a modern all-time low against the US dollar amid uncertainty over Trump’s arrival at the White House on January 20.
According to Bonbast.com, which reports exchange rates, the rial fell to 820,500 per dollar on the unofficial market, down from 808,500 on Friday. Bazar360.com also reported that the dollar was sold for about 820,500 rials.
Also with an inflation rate officially pegged at around 35%, Iranians looking to hide their savings are buying dollars, other tough currencies, gold or cryptocurrencies, and the rial has fallen by a total of around 18% since Trump’s election in November.
