Iran has threatened to quit a global nuclear treaty if European countries go to the U.N. Security Council over Tehran's commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Last week, the U.K., Germany and France triggered a dispute mechanism after accusing Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal. That means the matter could be sent to the U.N. Security Council, which could reimpose U.N. sanctions against Iran.
In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday, "If the Europeans continue their improper behavior or send Iran's file to the Security Council, we will withdraw from the [Non-Proliferation Treaty]."
The Non-Proliferation Treaty is a decades-old deal that almost 200 countries have signed, agreeing to work to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and instead develop peaceful nuclear technology. The U.N. calls the treaty "the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and an essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament." The only country to ever announce its withdrawal from the accord was North Korea back in 2003.
Iran has been gradually reducing its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal ever since President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement in 2018. Earlier this month, Iran announced it would no longer abide by the uranium enrichment limits of that deal.
