West ‘not adhering to nuclear deal’

– Europe is not helping preserve an accord on Iran’s nuclear programme by asking for additional talks on issues like missiles, powerful anti-Western cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said yesterday, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Jannati is head of the Assembly of Experts, an influential body that can select and dismiss the supreme leader, the highest author-

Tehran

ity in Iran.

Last week, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Tehran should be ready to negotiate on its future nuclear plans, its ballistic missile arsenal and its role in wars in Syria and Yemen.

Iran’s foreign ministry rejected the idea.

President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers in May and is reimposing sanctions on Tehran. The other parties to the accord – China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany – are trying to find ways to save the agreement.

“Europe has said that they won’t leave the deal,” Jannati said on IRNA. “In practice, by bringing up a discussion of missiles and other issues they are not following an appropriate path.” – Reuters