Iran is vigilant enough not to play into the US hands in its game to push Tehran to withdraw from its commitments under the nuclear pact, a lawmaker said.
The current US administration has toughened the policy on Iran since it came to office in January.
Despite getting relief from nuclear sanctions under the accord in return for implementing temporary nuclear curbs, Tehran has been hit several US sanctions in the past few months over other excuses, including its ballistic missile development program.
Iranian officials have threatened reciprocal action against US hostile moves. Jalil Rahimi cautioned that in doing so, the Islamic Republic should not forfeit the benefits of the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Asked whether it would be wise for Iran to reciprocate if US President Donald Trump carries out his threat to back out of the action plan, Rahimi said the agreement will hold even if the US were to pull out, as other countries would continue its implementation.
"We have achieved our intended goals from JCPOA and there is no need to play the Americans' game," he said.
Counter-Argument
Lawmaker Morteza Saffari Natanzi, however, laid out a counter-argument.
"If the Americans get out of the action plan, the Islamic Republic will do the same," he said, noting that the US was Iran's main counterparty in the nuclear negotiations and its withdrawal would render the action plan ineffective.
The 2015 nuclear deal was the outcome of 18 months of negotiations between Iran and P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany).
The US partners have not welcomed Trump's call for a full review of the pact. US State Department for the second time reaffirmed Iran's adherence to the action plan last week, technically allowing the sanctions to remain lifted. The department is required under the US law to notify the Congress every 90 days on Iran's compliance.
Media reports have said Trump, unhappy with the performance of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, has assigned a White House team to ensure there will be no third certification of Iran's adherence when the next 90-day notification is due.
