The threat was given on Monday in another desperate response to the sanction imposed by Washington. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart in Moscow: “It is meaningless to continue unilateral commitments to the deal if we don’t enjoy its benefits as promised by the deal’s European parties.” Tehran is prepared to take a “stronger step” in reducing its commitments under the deal with world powers if European countries don’t take action to save the pact, its foreign ministry’s spokesman said on Monday.
Iran’s state news agency (IRNA) quoted the foreign ministry’s spokesman Abbas Mousavi as saying on Monday: “The third step has been designed and will be stronger than the first and second steps to create a balance between Iran’s rights and commitments to the JCPOA.”
Iran has said it will breach the deal’s limits on its nuclear activities one by one, ratcheting up pressure on the countries who still hope to save it.
Also, Iran’s Government spokesman said on Monday that the Islamic Republic and France’s views on the deal have moved closer, mainly after phone calls between President Hassan Rouhani and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
The spokesman, Ali Rabiei, said in remarks carried by state television: “Fortunately the points of views have become closer on many issues and now technical discussions are being held on ways to carry out the Europeans’ commitments (in the nuclear deal).”
Two Iranian officials and one diplomat told Reuters on Aug. 25 that Iran wants to export a minimum of 700,000 barrels per day (BPD) of its oil and ideally up to 1.5 million BPD if the West wants to negotiate with Tehran to save the nuclear deal.
Mr Rabiei said: “Iran’s oil should be purchased and its money accessible.”
Iran’s oil exports have plummeted because of the U.S. sanctions, which also make it difficult for the country to receive payments through banks.
The US quit the Iran nuclear deal last year.
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President Donald Trump last year exited the accord between Iran and six world powers aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear programme, which the West suspected sought to make a nuclear weapon, in exchange for the lifting of many international sanctions on Tehran.
Washington has also reimposed sanctions on exports of Iranian oil.
Iran denies ever having sought a nuclear weapon.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump tweeted a photo of an Iranian space centre launch site on Friday.
This prompted speculation on whether he had posted a classified image from his morning intelligence briefing.
However, the US President has denied the claims, and clarified the mysterious explosion at the space centre had “nothing to do” with the US.
President Trump told reporters: “I just wish Iran well, they had a big problem and we had a photo.”