Iran warns Europe of further drop of nuclear commitments

TEHRAN -- Iran on Monday warned the European signatories of the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal of withdrawing from more of its commitments under the deal if they fail to meet Iran's demands.

"We are still waiting for the Europeans' practical and concrete measures in implementing the nuclear deal," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in his weekly press conference.

Tehran's patience is running out, Mousavi said, adding that Iran would take "the third step if the Europeans fail to honor their commitments once again."

On Sunday, Abbas Araqchi, Iranian envoy to the nuclear talks, also said that Iran will continue to abandon more of its commitments pertaining to the deal if the remaining parties to the accord fail to help Iran reap its economic interests.

Iran has withdrawn from parts of its obligations under the deal in two intervals recently, after the US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the nuclear deal, better known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in May 2018 and re-imposed sanctions, lifted under the accord, against Iran.

To secure trade with Iran and skirt US anti-Iran sanctions, the European Union has announced the launch of EU's special payment channel with Iran, namely INSTEX, in January.

However, Tehran said that the EU mechanism lacks feasibility in supplying Iran with petrodollars.