In a televised speech in Tehran on Sunday, September 20, President Hassan Rouhani declared what he described as “the defeat of the United States,” after Washington declared the unilateral reimposition of all previous United Nations sanctions against Iran.

Rouhani further threatened the United States with "stringent measures" if the US takes any practical steps aimed at reimposing the sanctions against Iran.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Rouhani said the US did not succeed in forging a coalition against Iran, and its initiative to extend the arms embargo against Tehran has failed.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared Saturday, September 19 that at 8:00 pm Eastern Time, 30 days after it gave notice to trigger the “snapback” option of the nuclear agreement, it considers all previous UN sanctions to be in effect.

Washington’s European allies, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, as well as its rivals, Russia and China have opposed the move and an unpredictable diplomatic confrontation is expected to ensue during the upcoming UN General Assembly.

Cabinet meetings in Iran are usually held on Wednesdays and a meeting on a Sunday is an extra-ordinary event probably showing that Rouhani expected something dramatic and he is glad that it has not happened yet. The meeting was also televised, something the state broadcaster usually does not do.

The embattled Iranian president, besieged by daunting economic challenges and limited powers, called the day a memorable landmark in the history of diplomacy. During the past four decades, the only landmark in the history of diplomacy for Iran has been the signing of the nuclear deal with the world powers in 2015. The deal is now in danger of collapse as the United States withdrew from it and Iran has been reducing its obligations under the treaty.

Meanwhile, some 12 hours after the United States announced the unilateral return of UN sanctions, Rouhani claimed that two years of efforts by the United States as "an arrogant state" to impose U.N. sanctions on Iran led to nowhere.

Rouhani said that when the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran in 2018, US leaders thought that Europe would follow suit, but they were wrong. “America failed to return UN sanctions and its initiatives to extend the arms embargo against Iran did not bear any fruit.”

However, the Trump administration has proved since 2018 that its unilateral sanctions can work, as Europe, China and Russia as well as international corporations have either greatly reduced their ties or completely stopped doing business with Tehran.

Rouhani insisted that the US policy of maximum pressure led to the United States' own international isolation. He was referring to the fact that only the Dominican Republic supported the US initiative at the UN Security Council.

He said the US experienced defeat vis-a-vis Iran thrice during the past two months, probably alluding to the IAEA and UN Security Council meetings where Washington sought to form an alliance against Tehran to stop the lifting of the arms embargo before the October 18 deadline.

Rouhani reiterated in the speech that the using the trigger mechanism of the nuclear deal by the United States has no legal foundation and thanked the UNSC for what he described as "ignoring the United States' request and not even holding a meeting to discuss it."

He said, "the only way to talk to Iran is doing it while respecting Iran's dignity," adding that "anyone who talks arrogantly is not likely to get a response from Iran."

Rouhani further added: "As Iran's President, I say that if the United States takes a practical measure to reimpose the UN sanctions, it will have to face Iran's stringent steps and the US will be responsible for the consequences of doing so."

Meanwhile, Rouhani vowed to remain committed to the 2015 nuclear deal and return to all of its obligations under the deal also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) if all other signatories to the JCPOA continue to respect it.

Renewing Iran's commitment to its international obligations, Rouhani thanked Supreme Leader Khamenei and the nation for the support of his government and said: "We will stand against the United States as long as this support continues."

Rouhani's declaration of victory against the United States comes while the US has still not started any measures after declaring the return of UN sanctions on Iran. US officials are waiting for an executive order from President Trump and international figures such as UN Chief Antonio Guterres have said they are still not sure what the US declaration would entail.