Iran will stand by its declared position in rejecting excessive US demands on the nuclear deal and is weighing several options in response to a possible US withdrawal from the landmark agreement, said the foreign policy advisor to the Leader of Islamic Revolution.
Commenting on the oft-mentioned threats by the beleaguered US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the pact, Ali Akbar Velayati said, "Trump's promises have lost all credibility. No country takes his remarks seriously. Whatever the position of the Americans, it is of no significance to us."
"What is certain is that we are determined to stick to our position and have all options on the table. We have plenty of options and will provide a proportional response," he was quoted as saying by IRNA. He did not elaborate.
He was speaking with reporters after a meeting with a member of the foreign policy advisory committee of the Foreign Ministry of China, Chi Pi Bing, in Tehran on Sunday.
Officially termed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the historic agreement rolled back Tehran's nuclear program in return for the easing of international sanctions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, the deal's verification body, has regularly confirmed that Iran has remained within the limits set by the action plan.
But the deal has been under fire from Trump, who has routinely chided his predecessor Barack Obama for failing to drive a hard enough bargain when negotiating the agreement that has the backing of the UN Security Council.
The Republican hawk has demanded that the Europeans join his administration in crafting a supplemental deal to strengthen the terms nuclear agreement, threatening otherwise not to waive US sanctions in May, as required every three months under US law.
Trump's refusal to extend the waivers would effectively spell the end of the broadly supported deal. His conditions include new curbs on Iran's ballistic missile program and regional activities.
Tehran has ruled out any amendment to JCPOA and restrictions on its military capabilities.
China was among the six power nations that negotiated the deal with Iran.
Bing reaffirmed his side's unwavering support for the multilateral action plan.
"JCPOA… is facing important developments and… China, as an important country, wants the JCPOA to be preserved," the Chinese diplomat said.
"Safeguarding the JCPOA amounts to protecting regional security and stability and upholding the system established under the Non-Proliferation Treaty."
Iran denies having ever considered developing a nuclear warhead, insisting that its nuclear program is peaceful.
