Iran renews threats to drop more nuke commitments

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Saturday that, under current circumstances, the Islamic republic will take another step to scale back from its nuclear commitments subject to 2015 international nuclear deal.

A general view of the Iranian nuclear power plant in Bushehr, southern Iran. [File Photo: IC]

"We have said that if the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) is not fully implemented by other signatories, we are also entitled, within the framework of JCOPA, not to implement it in full," Zarif was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

Iran preserves the rights to decide whether to remain committed or to keep reducing its obligations, he said.

Zarif held the United States responsible for the current situation, saying that all remaining member states of the JCPOA agree that Washington has caused all these tensions.

Zarif said Wednesday that the Islamic republic is determined to suspend more of its commitments under the landmark nuclear deal if the European signatories fail to uphold their end of the deal.

Iran has started withdrawal from parts of its obligations under the deal in two intervals since May, 2019, one year after U.S. exit from the deal.

Iran announced the increase of purity of its enriched uranium beyond 3.67 percent, and surpassed low-grade enriched uranium stockpile beyond 300 kg, the limits set in the accord.

Iran has threatened to go farther in trimming commitments and enrich uranium even with higher purity.