Iran says it has not made a decision yet to withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as it has made its fourth step to cut its commitments to 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Sunday that Iran's steps in partially suspending its obligations in response to the United States and Europe are "calculated."

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has made no decision yet on leaving the NPT," he told reporters in Tehran during a weekly news briefing.

"Iran has worked out different scenarios and will implement its intended measures based on time requirements and measures taken by the opposite side," he added.

Iran signed the NPT –  whose aim is to prevent the spread of nuclear arms and weapons technology – in July 1968 and ratified it in February 1970. 

It also signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with major world powers in 2015 and has been honoring its terms according to reports issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Since May, however, Iran has been scaling down its commitments in retaliation for Washington's 2018 pullout from the deal and Europe’s failure to protect Iran against American sanctions.

Tehran says its reciprocal measures will be reversible as soon as Europe finds practical ways to shield the Iranian economy from the sanctions. 

Mousavi rejected claims by Israeli officials about an alleged nuclear warehouse in Turquzabad in southwest Tehran as well as reports that the IAEA had found radioactive traces there.

Such claims, he said, are aimed at re-opening the so-called possible military dimensions (PMD) file on Iran’s nuclear program
"The so-called PMD file is closed and the Zionists are trying to re-open it," Mousavi said as he condemned the campaign.

"Re-opening a file that has been closed is not compatible with international laws and regulations. It is a trap designed by the Zionists and we hope that the International Atomic Energy Agency will exercise necessary vigilance in this regard," he added.


Asked about the case of Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in 2007, Mousavi said the person in question has no judicial or criminal file in Iranian courts, adding Tehran nevertheless has opened  "a missing person" file for him.  

"On the request [of his family], Iran has pursued the case on the basis of goodwill and some humanitarian considerations, but has also announced several times that it has no information about his situation," Mousavi said.