Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has told EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini that Iran is halting its nuclear research and investigation obligations as part of the third step in reducing its commitments to the nuclear deal, a foreign ministry spokesman said.
Zarif stressed that the measure comes within the rights of Iran and in response to the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.
In his letter to Federica Mogherini, the Iranian Foreign Minister pointed out that Iran will continue its negotiations with the partners of the nuclear agreement at all levels and that it is ready to retreat from its steps if the other parties implement their commitments.
Iran announced earlier that the third step would include work on developing centrifuges.
In contrast, a State Department spokesman for the island described Iran's declaration on the development of advanced centrifuges as an attempt to obtain a negotiated favor and blackmail the international community, he said.
The State Department spokesman said Iran's economic and political isolation would deepen if new steps were taken to raise further concerns about its nuclear program.
For its part, the European Union renewed its call on Iran to reverse the decision to reduce its commitments to the nuclear agreement, and demanded that it refrain from taking any step that contradicts the terms of the nuclear agreement.