Iran's Khamenei says ready to abandon nuclear deal if needed

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Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that his government should be ready to "set aside" the 2015 nuclear deal if it is no longer in the country's national interests, casting doubt on negotiations with European countries to salvage the deal.

"The JCPOA (nuclear deal) is not the objective, it is only a means," he said in a meeting with the cabinet, according to his website. "Naturally, if we reach the conclusion that it is no longer maintaining our national interests, we will put it aside."

Khamenei said talks should continue with Europe, which is trying to salvage the 2015 agreement despite the withdrawal of the US. But he said the Iranian government "must not pin hope on the Europeans for issues such as the JCPOA or the economy."

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his cabinet meet the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, Iran, Aug. 29, 2018. /VCG Photo

"We must examine their promises with skepticism," he added.

In a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and his cabinet, Khamenei said Tehran would not negotiate with the "indecent" US officials at any level to reach a new agreement on its nuclear program.

"(The Americans) want to say they can bring anyone, even the Islamic republic, to the negotiating table. But as I have previously said in detail, no negotiations with them will take place," Khamenei said.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters