Iranian FM Zarif suggests quitting nuclear proliferation treaty amid US sanctions squeeze

Published time: 28 Apr, 2019 06:48Edited time: 28 Apr, 2019 06:48

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Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, April 24, 2019 © Reuters / Carlo Allegri

Iran may pull out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as part of retaliatory measures to a renewed sanctions push from Washington, Iran’s foreign minister has said.

Mohammad Javad Zarif said that quitting the agreement designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons was among “numerous options” available to Tehran, state broadcaster IRIB reported on Sunday. The move comes after the Trump administration announced new efforts on Monday to cut Iranian oil exports “to zero” by removing exemptions from sanctions for US buyers of Iranian crude.

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“The Islamic Republic’s choices are numerous, and the country’s authorities are considering them... and leaving [the] NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) is one of them,” Zarif said.