Iran to scale back commitments if nuclear deal not revived

Sweeping inspection powers given to the UN nuclear watchdog by the 2015 deal come to an end next week

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, right, and the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi inspect the nuclear technology on the occasion of Iran National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran in 2019. EPA

IR-8 centrifuges at Natanz nuclear power plant, some 300 kilometres south of capital Tehran. AFP

The Iranian nuclear power plant in Bushehr in 2010. EPA

Salehi speaks with media while visiting Natanz enrichment facility, in central Iran in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP

The gate of Natanz nuclear power plant in Natanz , Isfahan province, in 2019. EPA

Inside of the Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, in Fordow, Qom province in 2019. EPA

Technicians work at the Arak heavy water reactor's secondary circuit, as officials and media visit the site, near Arak, Iran in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP

Members of the media and officials tour the water nuclear reactor at Arak in 2019. WANA via Reuters

Concrete is poured for the base of the second nuclear power reactor at Bushehr plant in 2019. Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP

Iran will further scale back its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal if other parties to the pact fail to fulfil their obligations, the Iranian foreign ministry said.

"Iran will stop implementing the IAEA additional protocol if the other participants of the Iran nuclear deal fail to uphold their commitments under the document by February 21," spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told the state news agency on Monday.

"We have no option but to respect the law. It does not mean ending all inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog,” he said, referring to an Iranian law that obliges the government to harden its nuclear stance.

On February 21, the law obliges the government to end the sweeping inspection powers given to the UN nuclear watchdog by the 2015 deal and limit inspections to declared nuclear sites only.

The additional protocol significantly increases the IAEA's ability to verify the peaceful use of all nuclear material in Iran with comprehensive safeguard agreements.

Mr Khatibzadeh's briefing came a week after intelligence minister,  Mahmoud Alavi said it would not be Tehran's fault if the country was ever "pushed" towards developing a nuclear bomb. Mr Khatibzadeh said Iran's stance had not changed and that Iran's nuclear activities have always been peaceful and will remain peaceful.

"A fatwa by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyad Ali Khamenei that prohibited the use of weapons of mass destruction is still in place," he said.

Iran: US should return to the nuclear deal