Relations between the US and Iran have always been complex and hostile and after the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, relations between the two nations have become worse than before. Ever since Donald Trump became President of the United States, the US has imposed many sanctions on Iran.
Now, News from Iran has hit the headlines that Iran may withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if a dispute over its atomic program is sent to the United Nations Security Council by European Nations.
Iran’s statement comes at a time when tensions between the US and Iran are high. “If the Europeans continue their improper behavior or send Iran’s file to the Security Council, we will withdraw from the NPT,” IRNA quoted Zarif as saying.
After Zarif’s comments, US disarmament envoy Robert Wood denounced Iran for “threatening to walk away from” the Cold War-era pact.
“We think that Iran needs to end its malign behaviour and sit down with the United States and negotiate an agreement that deals not only with the nuclear issue but also with the other issues that concern us like the ballistic missile proliferation,” the US envoy said.
Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPoA with US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China in 2015 that had offered it access to global trade in return for accepting curbs to its atomic program. But, in 2018, the US unilaterally pulled out the pact and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
Recently, the top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani was killed by the US while he was in Iraq after that tensions arose in the International arena. The objective of JCPoA was to curb the atomic program. Iran has been a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the NPT since 1970. Warning Trump Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said to stay in the nuclear deal or face “severe consequences”.
“I am telling those in the White House that if they do not live up to their commitments…the Iranian government will firmly react,” Rouhani said in a speech.
“If anyone betrays the deal, they should know that they would face severe consequences,” he told a cheering crowd of thousands gathered in the city of Tabriz. “Iran is prepared for all possible situations,” he added.
Iran said it would cancel its nuclear program if the deal collapses.
