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Wednesday, August 29, 2018, 23:12
Khamenei: Iran will quit nuke deal if interests not secured
By Xinhua
Wednesday, August 29, 2018, 23:12 By Xinhua

In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks at a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Aug 13, 2018. (OFFICE OF THE IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER / AP)

TEHRAN - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Wednesday through his official website that Iran will quit the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal if the interests of his country are not secured.

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Iran and six world powers, namely China, Russia, Britain, France, the United States and Germany, struck a landmark agreement over Iran's nuclear program in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

If we come to the conclusion that JCPOA cannot serve the national interests, we will leave it

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian Supreme Leader

However, US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw Washington from the deal on May 8 and re-impose sanctions, including oil embargo, on Iran.

"If we come to the conclusion that JCPOA cannot serve the national interests, we will leave it," Khamenei said during a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and his administration. 

The Iranian top leader also expressed dismay over the EU, saying the Islamic republic "pins no hope on Europeans over JCPOA and economic issues."

Iran has incessantly urged Europe to take "practical and tangible measures" to protect Iranian interests since the US pullout.

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"From the words and the deeds of the Iranians, the Europeans should know about the reaction and the measures of the Islamic republic" in case the talks with them bear no result, Khamenei noted.

Iran is currently in talks with France, Britain and Germany to revive the blocking statute, a 1996 regulation that prohibits EU companies and courts from complying with foreign sanctions laws.  


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