Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran would stick to its 2015 nuclear accord with world powers as long as the other signatories respected it, but would “shred” the deal if Washington pulled out.
Khamenei's statement came five days after US President Donald Trump refused to certify its compliance with the deal, reports Reuters.
“I don’t want to waste my time on answering the rants and whoppers of the brute (US) president,” Khamenei said in a speech to students in Tehran quoted by state television.
“Trump’s stupidity should not distract us from America’s deceitfulness...If the U.S. tears up the deal, we will shred it,” Khamenei said.
Trump’s move put Washington at odds with other parties to the accord - Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union - who say Washington cannot unilaterally cancel a multilateral accord enshrined by a UN resolution.
Khamenei, who has the final say on Iran’s state matters, welcomed their support but said it was not sufficient.
“European states stressed their backing for the deal and condemned Trump ... We welcomed this, but it is not enough to ask Trump not to rip up the agreement. Europe needs to stand against practical measures (taken) by America,” said Iranian leader.