Iran has officially ended its compliance with severalcommitments of the countrys 2015 nuclear deal, the country’s atomic energy bodysaid on Wednesday.
An official from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran toldthe semi-official ISNA news agency that “the country has begun to stopimplementing some of its obligations under the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Planof Action) as underlined in an SNSC (Supreme National Security Council)statement”, Efe news reported.
“Stopping programmes related to compliance with theceiling for production of enriched uranium as well as the unlimited productionof heavy water at the Arak facility are programmes seriously pursued asstressed during the first 60-day period related to Iran’s first step inresponse to the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal,” the official added.
On May 8, President Hassan Rouhani warned that Iran wouldbegin to withdraw from key aspects of the agreement if global powers failed tokeep their commitments within the next 60 days.
With Washington tightening its sanctions on the Islamicrepublic, Rouhani issued a 60-day suspension for the rest of the signatories ofthe pact to fulfil Iran’s demands and save the country’s banking system and oiltrade from international sanctions.
He specified that the measure, which would mean Iran willnot abide by the condition to sell its enriched uranium and heavy water beyondgiven limits, had a 60-day deadline, during which Tehran would wait for aresponse from the deal’s remaining parties.
The announcement came exactly one year after the USabandoned the JCPOA it had signed with Iran along with Russia, China, Franceand the UK as co-signatories.
The agreement limits Iran’s nuclear programme in exchangefor lifting international sanctions but has been weakened after Washington’sexit.
On the other hand, tensions between Iran and the US haveescalated after the latter announced it would reinforce its troops deployed inthe Middle East by sending USS Arlington and the Patriot missile system to joinUSS Abraham Lincoln with more fighter-bombers.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has ruled out thepossibility of war with the US and added that there would be no renegotiationof the deal.