Sputnik - Tehran has signaled its readiness to abandon the Iranian nuclear deal if its implementation runs counter to the country's interests. In this vein, experts wonder whether Iran could return to developing nuclear weapons.

Late last week, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran will withdraw from�the Joint Comprehensive Plan of�Action (JCPOA) "as soon as�it feels that the advantages of�the nuclear deal fall behind�its costs and disadvantages," according to�the Tasnim news agency.

The JCPOA, which was clinched in�July 2015, lifts nuclear-related sanctions imposed on�Iran in�exchange for�assurances that Tehran's nuclear program will remain peaceful. According to�the deal, the sides also agreed to�refrain from�policies intended to�affect Iran's trade and economic relations.
"The Islamic Republic of�Iran will honor the JCPOA as�long as�it enjoys the benefits of�the JCPOA," Araghchi was quoted by�Tasnim as�saying.


The JCPOA, which was agreed upon�in July 2015, prompted Russia and other countries to�lift nuclear-related sanctions. Araghchi also said that Washington is trying to�withdraw from�the JCPOA and blame Tehran.

[US President Donald] Trump and the US as�a whole are trying to�pull out�of the nuclear deal while shoving all of�the costs of�the accord�s failure on�Iran," Araghchi was quoted as�saying by�the Mehr news agency.

During the election campaign and after�becoming US president, Trump repeatedly promised to�review the Iran nuclear deal and slammed the administration of�former US President Barack Obama for�signing the agreement in�the first place.

Experts, meanwhile, said in�separate�interviews with�RT�that neither Iran nor the United States would like�to unilaterally withdraw from�the JCPOA.Despite Trump's harsh criticism of�the deal, Washington continues to�be a party to�this agreement.

Russian expert on�the Middle East Irina Fyodorova recalled that the Iranian nuclear deal was not approved by�the Congress and was enacted by�decree of�former US President Obama, making it only valid for�180 days.
"At the end of�this period, the US needed either to�extend the deal or withdraw from�it. Trump extended it for�another 180 days. In this regard, stern rhetoric and real actions related to�this agreement differ from�each other in�American politics," Fyodorova told RT.


She recalled that apart from�the US and Iran, the JCPOA involves Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China. Washington's unilateral withdrawal from�the deal would not only surprised Moscow and Beijing, but�would also complicate the White House's relations with�its NATO allies.
"If the US withdraws from�the JCPOA without�consulting its allies, it will undermine US credibility among�Europeans," Fyodorova said.


She added that "European countries need to�quickly restore their positions in�Iran which is why they are up�in arms against�any abolition of�the agreement on�the Iran nuclear program."
"In this regard, Iran is also very unwilling to�withdraw from�this agreement because if it does so, its hopes for�obtaining high-tech investments from�European countries would be undermined," Fyodorova pointed out.


She was echoed by�Russian Oriental expert Said Gafurov, who said in�an interview with�RT that "we should not take this [Araghchi's] statement as�a preparation for�withdrawing from�the agreement."
"Iran always has such an opportunity, but�it really does not want to�spend money on�the nuclear missile program, because this is a vulnerable, expensive and very dangerous thing in�Iran, which has repeatedly been hit by�earthquakes," Gafurov said, adding that Iran "does not really need a nuclear bomb, although technologically they can make it."


"We should see this statement as�an instrument to�use in�the domestic political struggle and a leverage to�exert pressure on�the Americans," Gafurov said. His stance was shared by�Fedorova, who said that Iran threatening to�withdraw from�the "nuclear deal" should not be understood literally.

According to�Gafurov, Araghchi's statement was first and foremost addressed to�the Israeli lobby in�the United States which is mainly responsible for�a whole array of�the anti-Iranian sanctions endorsed by�the US President and Congress.

Gafurov noted that it is the Israeli lobby that is now pushing for�a new package of�the anti-Iran sanctions in�a bid to�damage the interests of�the country Israel views as�its arch-foe in�the region. But their position may change if, as�a result of�US pressure, Iran decides to�begin the production of�nuclear weapons, according to�Gafurov.
"They are now demanding sanctions against�Iran, but�if Tehran starts making [nuclear] bombs, they will say: 'Don't introduce the sanctions and let's avoid the bombs," Gafurov said, referring to "a typical Iranian manner of�diplomacy aimed at�turning the enemy into�a friend."


Touching upon�the economic aspect of�the anti-Iranian sanctions, Gafurov said that these restrictive measures have no effect on�the extraction or sale of�Iranian oil. He recalled that "Iran is constantly increasing its oil exports while under�the sanctions."

"Europeans are extremely interested in�developing [oil trade] operations with�Iran. Americans can suppress this drive but�it will cost them a lot of�blood. Additionally, there are China and India which need Iranian oil, and the US will be unable to�force them to�join the anti-Iranian sanctions," he added.

Fedorova in�turn suggested that "in the future, the United States may slap new sanctions on�Iran without�withdrawing from�the JCPOA."
"The ultimate goal is to�drive Iran out�of the [global] oil market,"� Fyodorova said, adding that "this is not a short-term prospect."