Hamid Baeidinejad on Iran’s Threats to Break Nuclear Deal

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Clearly, just in the last 12 to 24 hours, both your side have stepped up confrontation and the Americans have, as well.

HAMID BAEIDINEJAD, IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: We have not stepped up confrontation because the decision that we announced around 40 days ago that if, in fact, the other parties to the JCPOA would not live up with their obligations Iran would decide to a little bit suspend some of its measures under the JCPOA was clear to everybody. Now, we have 20 days to rectify the situation. Otherwise, Iran, as promised, would, in fact, suspend some of the measures that, in fact, are enshrined in the JCPOA but we have prepared ourselves. And as it was announced today, maybe within 10 days from now, Iran would be at the situation that can speed it up its program and we would be passing the limit designed in the JCPOA. So, it’s not a confrontation. Today, we announced 40 days ago and we have been waiting for other parties to rectify their commitments.

AMANPOUR: Correct. But the thing is, it hasn’t yet worked. I mean, you did this 40 days ago. You took an action around that time. And you were hoping that the Europeans would somehow persuade the United States that there must be some ability for you to have the economic side of the equation to your nuclear commitments. That hasn’t happened. The United States, if anything, is more determined to squeeze Iran economically. The Europeans haven’t been able to. Just there, your atomic energy spokesman saying the 20-day threat to increase stockpiles and the level of enrichment is to hopefully get Europe to do something about it, but they’re not. So, are you playing with fire?

BAEIDINEJAD: There is a confusion maybe here. We announced 40 days ago that if, in fact, we have decided to suspend two of the measures designed in the JCPOA. We are not committed anymore to the level designed by the JCPOA. But we said that we give you 60 days if you rectify the problems and you would — in fact, implement your commitments, Iran can roll back, in fact, these suspensions.