Nuclear deal: Iran says Trump sending ‘dangerous message’
Tehran threatens to resume uranium enrichment programme if US quits nuclear deal
Donald Trump’s threats to pull out of the Iran nuclear agreement send a “dangerous message” that the US cannot be trusted, Iran’s foreign minister has warned.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran would “pursue vigorously our nuclear enrichment [programme]” if the US president reimposes economic sanctions that were lifted as part of the deal struck under Barack Obama in 2015.
Trump has repeatedly criticised the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under which Iran agreed to eliminate all of its medium-enriched uranium and to cut its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98%.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The US leader has until 12 May - when the deal is due to be renewed - to decide whether to go ahead with a set of new sanctions that he hinted at in January.
Zarif said: “That's a very dangerous message to send to people of Iran - but also to the people of the world - that you should never come to an agreement with the United States because at the end of the day, the operating principle of the United States is ‘what's mine is mine, what's yours is negotiable’.
“The situation is creating an impression globally that agreements don't matter.”
The UK, France, Germany, Russia and China are all signatories of the JCPOA, but Iran has said it is “highly unlikely” to remain in the agreement if the US pulled out.
Zarif added: “America never should have feared Iran producing a nuclear bomb, but we will pursue vigorously our nuclear enrichment. If they want to fear anything, it’s up to them.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is academic freedom in peril?
Today's Big Question Faculty punishments are on the rise
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Moldova's pro-West president wins 2nd term
Speed Read Maia Sandu beat Alexandr Stoianoglo, despite suspicions of Russia meddling in the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Halloween has been steadily succumbing to the chronically online'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Hostage taking didn't start on Oct. 7
Opinion It was always at the center of Iran's project to topple American power
By Mark Gimein Published
-
Biden, Netanyahu talk ahead of Israeli hit on Iran
Speed Read The pair spoke for the first time since August
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Such wrongdoing encourages foreign corrupt practices'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How could escalation in the Middle East affect the global economy?
Today's Big Question Oil prices have already risen but wider conflict could see supply chains disrupted more broadly
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a wider regional war finally at hand in the Middle East?
Talking Points Iran and Israel ramp up the rhetoric
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Israel vows revenge for Iran's thwarted attack
Speed Read Iran's attack was in retaliation for Israel's killing of Iran military leaders, plus members of Tehran-backed Hezbollah and Hamas
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Israeli killing of Hezbollah leader roils Lebanon, Iran
Speed Read Israeli airstrikes killed Hassan Nasrallah and other top leaders of the militant group, escalating the chance of all-out war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published