Tehran, June 17: Iran is likely to announce its next steps on Monday over ending its compliances with its commitment to the landmark 2015 international nuclear deal, International Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
Iran has suspended complying with a few elements of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) in May, one year after United States President Donald Trump withdrew America from the INF pact.
On May 8, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the left signatories – China, France, Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom – had only 60 days deadline to implement their vows to secure Tehran’s banking and oil fields from the US sanctions.
Monday’s announcement has come amidst rising tensions in the Gulf after a series of attack s over two oil tankers and infrastructure in the region, according to Reuters news reports.
Iran also said its decision to decrease its commitment under the INF pact was within its rights under the landmark nuclear treaty.
In May, Tehran said it would begin enriching uranium at an above level unless global powers protest it from US sanctions within 60 days.
Speaking at the Interaction and Confidence Building Measures conference in Asia, Rouhani said, “Obviously, Iran cannot stick to this agreement unilaterally,” according to Al-Jazeera news reports.
Two oil tankers – the Panama-flagged Kokuka Courageous and Marshal Islands-flagged Front Altair – were on Thursday attacked around the Strait of Hormuz. Following which, the United States claimed Iran should be held accountable for the oil attacks, a statement which Tehran has denounced earlier today.
Meanwhile, Russia, an ally of Iran, warned against “hasty conclusions” over yesterday’s incident in the Gulf or blaming Iran for the suspected attacks, according to RIA-Novosti.