Baku, Azerbaijan, May 7
Trend:
Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that exiting the nuclear deal reached between Tehran and six world powers in 2015, is among Iran’s options if the US administration leaves the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).
Zarif made the remarks May 12 after attending a parliamentary session in Tehran, the Iranian media outlets reported.
The US president Donald Trump may reimpose US sanctions on Iran that were lifted in 2015 in exchange for Iranian commitments to curb its nuclear program.
He has given UK, France and Germany - which still back the deal - a May 12 deadline to fix what he views as its flaws. These include its failure to address Iran’s ballistic missile program, the terms by which inspectors visit suspected Iranian sites, and “sunset” clauses under which some terms expire.
Zarif said that Iran has widespread options in case of US withdrawal and leaving the nuclear deal is only one of them.
The final decision will be made on May 12, regarding the US side steps, Zarif added.
The top Iranian diplomat said that Tehran takes steps and decisions based on its own interests.
He also argued that the US possible withdrawal from the nuclear deal will not be in favour of Washington.
Zarif said that Iran is already prepared for the possible US withdrawal, adding that necessary measures have already been taken.
He also forecasted that the Washington’s exit from the nuclear deal will definitely lead to its isolation.
Zarif also confirmed his meetings with the US politicians including the former US Secretary of State John Kerry in his recent trip to New York.
He said that has held talks with people who are currently not part of the US administration but were present during the previous nuclear negotiations including decision makers as well as political elites to transfer the realities about the nuclear deal to them.
The Iranian top diplomat said that he had met with different figures from both Democratic and Republican parties during the trip.