Iran threatens to quit nuke deal if interests not secured

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday warned that Iran will quit the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal if the interests of his country are not secured.

Iran and six world powers, namely China, Germany, France, Russia, the UK, and the US had struck a landmark agreement over Iran's nuclear programme in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Xinhua news agency reported.

However, US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the deal on May 8 and reimposed sanctions, including an oil embargo, on Iran.

"If we come to the conclusion that JCPOA cannot serve the national interests, we will leave it," Khamenei said during a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and his administration.

Through his official website, the Iranian leader also expressed dismay over the EU, saying the Islamic republic "pins no hope on Europeans over JCPOA and economic issues".

Iran has incessantly urged Europe to take "practical and tangible measures" to protect Iranian interests since the US pullout.

--IANS

mag/bg