EUROPE UNDER GUN ON DEAL

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said yesterday that his government should abandon the nuclear deal if it was no longer in the country’s interest, putting pressure on Europe to reaffirm its commitment to positive relations.

“The nuclear deal is not the objective, it is only a means,” Mr Khamenei said in a meeting with the Cabinet and President Hassan Rouhani.

“Naturally, if we reach the conclusion that it is no longer maintaining our national interests, we will put it aside.”

The threat comes amid a lack of clarity on the future of the 2015 deal after the US pulled out in May, leaving European allies torn between loyalty to America and keeping the deal.

“There is no problem with continuing relations and negotiations with Europe, but hope should be abandoned regarding matters such as the nuclear deal,” Mr Khamenei said. He said he would not negotiate with “indecent” US officials at any level. But the costs of US sanctions are starting to bite, with high unemployment, a weak currency and rising prices.

On Tuesday, while answering questions in Parliament on Iran’s deteriorating economy, Mr Rouhani, promised to defeat “anti-Iranian” officials in the White House, placing the blame for the country’s economic woes at the feet of US President Donald Trump.

Tehran is seeking to clarify the position of European partners on the deal before the next round of US sanctions come into effect on November 4. They will affect the energy sector and make it harder to send international payments to Iranian businesses.