TEHRAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran may withdraw from the 2015 international nuclear deal if it cannot receive economic benefits, Iranian deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as saying Thursday.
"If the policy of confusion and uncertainties about the JCPOA (or nuclear deal) continues, if companies and banks are not working with Iran, we cannot remain in a deal that has no benefit for us," Araqchi was quoted by Press TV as saying during a speech at Britain's Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.
Araqchi said U.S. President Donald Trump "has created an atmosphere of uncertainty which is like a poison for the business community in working with Iran."
"The (nuclear) deal would not survive this way even if the (U.S.) waivers are extended," said Araqchi.
On Jan. 12, Trump once again extended the waivers that are mandatory under the deal reached between Iran and six major world powers in 2015, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Trump said he extended the sanctions relief on Iran for the last time, threatening to withdraw from the landmark pact unless U.S. Congress and European allies can fix the alleged "disastrous flaws" in the deal.
Trump has constantly criticized the pact inked between Iran and Russia, Britain, France, China, the U.S. and Germany, in which the West promised to relieve sanctions on Tehran in exchange for a halt in Iran's efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.
Iran said it will not take any measures beyond its commitment to the JCPOA, nor will it accept changes to this agreement now or any time in the future.
The U.S. is the only party that has threatened to scrap the deal, a stance that has been opposed by other participants.
Since 2017 when Trump took office, the U.S. has sanctioned around 100 individuals and entities involved with Iran's ballistic missile program and other activities which the U.S. deems as "illicit."
Iran has dismissed the U.S. calls for halting its missile program development, saying it is only for deterrent purposes.
