Iran threatens to quit nuke deal if interests not secured

TEHRAN - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Wednesday that Iran will quit the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal if the interests of his country are not secured.

Iran and six world powers, namely China, Russia, Britain, France, the United States and Germany, struck a deal over Iran's nuclear program in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

However, US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw Washington from the deal earlier this year and re-impose sanctions on Iran.

"If we come to the conclusion that JCPOA cannot serve the national interests, we will leave it," Khamenei said during a meeting with President Hassan Rouhani and his administration.

The Iranian top leader also expressed dismay over the EU, saying the Islamic republic "pins no hope on Europeans over JCPOA and economic issues."