Sputnik - Commenting on Tehran's warning that it will withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if Washington scraps the Iran nuclear deal, US political analyst Alexander Azadegan told Sputnik that the Islamic Republic should tread carefully on the issue.




Alexander Azadegan, professor of�geopolitics from�the University of�California and chief editor of�the website ImperiaNews, said that Europe is not ready for�Tehran's possible withdrawal from�the Iran nuclear deal�and does not want to�lose the advantages that the nuclear deal brought to�European countries which are also against�Iran's pullout of�the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Azadegan recalled that US attacks on�Iran began during�the Obama presidency, when the White House extended the Iranian oil embargo.
"The Islamic Republic's current response to�all American claims is the result of�activities by�those politicians, who like [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu will now begin demonizing Iran and say that Tehran will produce an atomic bomb in�the near�future," Azadegan said.


He added that "Iran just wants to�say that it will no longer enter negotiations on�its nuclear program" and that first of�all, it should be considered by�US President Donald Trump who "thinks that he can start negotiations again, bargain with�Iran and get advantages from�it."

US Sanctions Against Iran

Azadegan said that the Iranian economy was seriously damaged by�US sanctions but�that Iran is not going to�retreat a step from�its position. He warned of�the international community's looming distrust for�Iran.
"Most likely, it will happen, which is why Iran should take an offensive, yet balanced, position. The US President does not pay attention to�European allies and acts on�orders from�the Israeli lobby in�Washington. Europe wants political and economic stability in�Iran rather than�a regime change, in�order to�invest in�the Islamic Republic on�a long-term basis. But Trump does not want this and relies on�sanctions, a policy that that cannot last forever," Azadegan underscored.


He also blamed Western countries for�using "a missile theme" as�a pretext to�criticize the Iran nuclear deal, also known as�the Joint Comprehensive Plan of�Action (JCPOA).
"This is wrong. The deal clearly states that missiles cannot have nuclear charges and Iran complies with�this requirement. Iran strictly adheres to�the JCPOA, showing maximum goodwill in�the deal's implementation. Currently, more liberals and reformers in�Iran are starting to�understand the price of�American false promises and say that the US is not a partner that can be trusted," Azadegan said.


Earlier this week, Ali Shamkhani, secretary of�Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told reporters that the Atomic Energy Organization of�Iran was ready for�some "surprising actions" if the JCPOA is scrapped.

When asked whether it means Tehran may withdraw from�the NPT, Shamkhani said that "this is one of�three options that we are considering."

Since his election campaign in�2016, Trump has voiced his dissatisfaction with�the JCPOA. In late January 2018, he intensified his rhetoric, asking the Congress to�address the flaws in�the "terrible Iran nuclear deal" and threatening to�pull out�of it otherwise.

Trump is expected to�announce his decision by�the May 12 deadline, whether or not he is imposing economic sanctions against�Iran.

European countries which are signatories to�the JCPOA�have repeatedly voiced concern about�Washington's plans on�the Iran deal, while Moscow has warned against�scrapping the agreement. The Russian Foreign Ministry announced that it would stick to�the JCPOA provisions as�long as�other participants do. Moscow also added that it does not believe the deal needs to�be changed.

The JCPOA was signed by�the European Union, Iran and the P5+1 group of�countries, including Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany, on�July 14, 2015.

The deal stipulates that Tehran pledges not to�develop or acquire nuclear weapons in�exchange for�the lifting of�sanctions imposed against�the Islamic Republic.

The views and opinions expressed by�Alexander Azadegan are those of�the analyst and do not necessarily reflect those of�Sputnik.