Tehran: Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Nikzad has criticized the West’s pressure tactic against the Islamic Republic, stating that the “snapback” of United Nations sanctions does not mean the destruction of the Iranian economy.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Nikzad made the remarks during his recent visit to IRNA headquarters, in response to a question regarding the role of Parliament and the government in the wake of the return of the UN Security Council sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.

Referring to the snapback mechanism, the deputy speaker said the Islamic Republic did not want it to be activated in any way; however, ‘the Iranian economy will not be destroyed with the return of UN sanctions.’

He said that the West had already done everything it could, and therefore, at present, they intend to put pressure on Iran psychologically, not economically. ‘We do not accept snapback as the legal right of European countries, and this issue is more significant in terms of its psychological burden. I am the representative of the people, and I know about the lives of the people and the costs,’ he added.

Noting that legislative and executive branches are synchronized, the deputy speaker underlined that any action in the country will definitely be taken with full coordination as ‘Parliament keeps monitoring foreign issues on a daily and even hourly basis.’

Elsewhere in his remarks, he said that the people have the right to complain about the economy and bureaucracy, but added that there is complete unity and coordination between Parliament and the government despite criticisms.

Nikzad visited IRNA on October 6 and answered journalists’ questions while touring various departments of the news agency.