Iran hints at withdrawal from NPT as possible option

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that his country could use withdrawal from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as an option in response to Washington's heightened pressures and sanctions.

"The Islamic Republic’s choices are numerous, and officials are studying them…leaving the NPT is one of them,” Zarif said in an interview with the state TV on Sunday.

The Americans proved that they are not a reliable negotiating partner, he said, adding, “In this case, the only way left for Iran is to counter the US sanctions, which would then lead to decreasing our reliance on oil, increasing our non-oil revenues, and boosting domestic production and non-oil exports.”

Zarif referred to the EU’s trade mechanism (INSTEX) and Iran’s expectations from the European side, and said, “The Europeans had a whole year, and regrettably took no tangible measure. We expect them to prove that this hasn’t been the case. I don’t think they have much time left.”

The Iranian top diplomat also said that he would make official visits to Russia and North Korea in the near future.

Washington withdrew unilaterally from the internationally-endorsed 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and re-imposed sanctions against the country.

Under the nuclear agreement reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries, including the US itself, in July 2015, Tehran undertook to put limits on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions.

Despite Washington's measures, Iran has not left the deal, stressing that the remaining signatories to the agreement have to work to offset the negative impacts of the US pullout for Iran if they want Tehran to remain committed to it.

EA