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Iran threatened on Wednesday to further reduce its commitments to the 2015 landmark nuclear deal if the European Union (EU) "keeps failing" to protect the Islamic republic's interest.
Iran's move to reduce commitments under the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), results from the U.S. unilateral exit from the deal and the EU's "inaction" in this regard, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.
"If Europe keeps failing to honor its (JCPOA) commitments, we will have to take the next step in order to create a balance in the (implementation of the) commitments," the Iranian official said in a meeting with the visiting Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev.
Shamkhani also lauded Moscow for what he called "Russia's firm stance against the U.S. illegal measures on the JCPOA."
In response to the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and its subsequent re-imposition of sanctions against the Islamic republic, as well as the Europeans' "sluggishness" in facilitating its banking transactions and oil exports, Iran has moved to drop its commitments to the JCPOA.
Beside the latest move to begin enrichment activities in underground Fordow nuclear facility, Iran has started to build stockpiles of nuclear fuel and enrich low-grade uranium to a higher level of purity.
It also started up advanced centrifuges to boost the country's stockpile of enriched uranium and research activities, all of which had been restricted by the nuclear accord.
(CGTN)
