TEHRAN, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Iran will cut 2015 international nuclear deal into shreds if the United Stats chooses to tear it up, Press TV reported.
Khamenei welcomed the European governments' opposition to the U.S. President Donald Trump's refusal to certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
"But this is not enough for them (EU) to say that he (Trump) should not tear up the JCPOA," he said, adding that "the JCPOA serves their interests."
"As long as the other party has not torn up the JCPOA, we will not tear it up ... Iran will rip the deal into shreds if the other side decides to tear it up," he said.
Besides, Europeans need to take practical measures in the face of Washington's threats to the deal, and refuse to join voices with the U.S. in its opposition to Iran's regional role and defense program, he stressed.
Khamenei also dismissed Western criticisms of Iran's conventional missile program, noting, "Why do you, yourself, have missiles? Why do you have atomic bombs?"
Europe, should "avoid meddling with our defense issues," Khameni pointed out.
On Friday, the U.S. president refused to certify Iran's international nuclear deal and accused Tehran of sponsoring terrorism, saying that he would deny Iran's "all paths to a nuclear weapon."
