Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned on Monday that Iran will withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the country’s nuclear file is sent to the United Nations Security Council.
"If the Europeans continue their improper behavior or send Iran's file to the Security Council, we will withdraw from the NPT," IRNA news agency quoted Zarif as saying.
Last week, Zarif said European powers have violated a 2015 international nuclear deal, a day after Britain, France and Germany launched a complaint against Tehran for non-compliance.
The European states initiated a so-called dispute mechanism process, saying Iran had progressively scaled back its commitments under the agreement.
The move, which came at a time of red-hot tensions between Iran and the United States, sparked anger in Tehran.
The accord, which makes it significantly more difficult for Iran to develop nuclear weapons undetected, was struck in Vienna by Iran, the three European nations, the United States, China and Russia.
The agreement allows a party to claim significant non-compliance by another party before a joint commission.
If the issue is not resolved by the commission, it then goes to an advisory board and eventually to the Security Council, which could reimpose sanctions that were lifted under the accord.
