Iran says 2025 ‘important year’ for nuclear issue By Reuters

(Reuters) – Iran, bracing for a possible reassertion of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy, said on Saturday that 2025 would be a critical year for its nuclear issue.

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

“2025 will be an important year regarding Iran’s nuclear issue,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told reporters in Beijing, adding that he had discussed the issue with his Chinese counterpart in a speech broadcast on Iranian state television.

He did not mention Trump by name, however, or indicate how important the year could be.

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

The Iranian rial hit a historic low against the US dollar on Saturday amid uncertainty over Trump’s arrival at the White House on January 20.

In the unofficial market, the riyal fell to 820,500 to the dollar, down from 808,500 on Friday, according to Bonbast.com, which reports exchange rates.Bazar360.com also reported that the dollar was trading at around 820,500 riyals.

Also facing an inflation rate that officially hovers around 35%, Iranians seeking to protect their savings are buying dollars, other hard currencies, gold or cryptocurrencies, with the rial overall down about 18% since Trump was elected in November.