Sputnik - Iranian officials remain at odds over how Tehran should respond to Washington's plans to slap a new round of sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Some even say that Tehran should withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said last week 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."

"The Islamic Republic of�Iran will honor the JCPOA as�long as�it enjoys the benefits of�the JCPOA," Araghchi was quoted by�Tasnim News Agency�as�saying.

Ali Akbar Salehi, Vice-President of�Iran and head of�its Atomic Energy Organization, said in�turn that Americans are trying to�force Iran to�pull out�of the nuclear deal by�using "sanctions provocations."
"Why should we break this deal? We must act wisely and not succumb to�anger and these [US] tricks," he said.


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.


Meanwhile, experts continue to�speculate on�how Iran's national interests will continue to�benefit from�the nuclear deal in�the wake of�the new US sanctions and the so-called "red line" for�Iran's withdrawal from�the JCPOA.
Iranian political analyst Hassan Beheshtipour told�Sputnik Iran�that the "red line" could be a scenario where Tehran would have to�backtrack on�its promises to�Moscow and the P5+1 group in�order to�retaliate against�US anti-Iranian sanctions.


The P5+1 refers to�the UN Security Council's five permanent members, including China, France, Russia, Britain and the US plus Germany, which joined together in�diplomatic efforts with�Iran concerning its nuclear program.

Touching upon�the JCPOA, Beheshtipour said that US President Donald Trump "wants the US interests to�be guaranteed to�the maximum, and not the way it is stipulated by�the Iranian nuclear deal."
"That is, he shows excessive ambition and wants to�get more than�what the Obama administration agreed to�when signing the JCPOA. Speaking globally, the JCPOA does have any points that contradict the interests of�the United States," Beheshtipour said.


On benefits for�Iran's national interests, he recalled that "Iran expected the JCPOA to�help it continue the process of�enriching uranium under�the control of�the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."
"These interests were guaranteed. Also, it was important to�dispel false accusations that Iran is creating an atomic bomb, an issue that was resolved with�the help of�the IAEA. Here again, Iran's interests have not been violated," Beheshtipour pointed out.


As for�the third part of�the nuclear deal, one of�the most important, it pertains to�the lifting of�sanctions. The bulk of�the sanctions were scrapped but�there are still about�250 restrictions, according to�him.
"Moreover, the US Congress is now trying to�re-establish some of�these sanctions under�the pretext of�the threat of�Iran's missile program and its alleged support of�terrorism. At the end of�the day, all this may turn the JCPOA into�an ineffective deal and prompt Iran to�withdraw from�this agreement," Beheshtipour said.


He recalled in�this regard that US Senator Bob Corker earlier said that it is Iran, not the United States that should pay for�the flop of�the JCOA and that Washington should pave the ground for�it.
"Iran, which has long been aware of�this insidious plan of�the US, remains on�heightened alert. That's why Tehran is unlikely to�withdraw from�the JCPOA unilaterally. Now the ball, as�they say, is in�the US court," Beheshtipour said.


He added that Washington "must explain to�the international community why, despite�the fact that Iran has fulfilled all its obligations, the United States still wants to�turn the JCPOA into�an ineffective deal."

"As for�the 'red line', if US allies such as�Britain, Germany, France, as�well as�Iran's main trading partners, including China, India, Russia, South Korea and South Africa, adhere to�Washington's demands, Iran will be forced to�take extreme measures, namely, suspend the nuclear deal's implementation,"� Beheshtipour said.
"But if Europe, to�be more exact Germany, France and Britain England, as�well as�Russia, China, India, Australia and Japan support Iran, the Islamic Republic will honor its obligations and will not withdraw from�the JPCOA," he concluded.