In reality, though, Iran needs the nuclear agreement more than the West does. Tehran’s failing economy was boosted when sanction were lifted following the deal, and its leadership is spending billions of dollars in Syria and and elsewhere in the region. That sanctions relief continue under the nuclear agreement is critical to Tehran.

Although the regime claims that the US violated the nuclear agreement, Washington’s new sanctions are a response to Tehran’s ballistic missile program. Tehran has fired at least 10 ballistic missiles since the nuclear agreement was signed, which is in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. These sanctions also target the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The sanctions have nothing to do with the nuclear agreement, which addressed only Tehran’s nuclear program.

Regarding Tehran’s performance under the deal, US president Donald Trump pointed out, “They are not in compliance with the agreement and they certainly are not in the spirit of the agreement, and I think you’ll see some very strong things taking place if they don’t get themselves in compliance.”

According to a report by The Institute for Science and International Security, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization recently made an attempt to purchase tons of controlled carbon fiber. The report said, “This raises concerns over whether Iran intends to abide by its JCPOA commitments. In particular, Iran may seek to stockpile the carbon fiber so as to be able to build advanced centrifuge rotors far beyond its current needs under the JCPOA, providing an advantage that would allow it to quickly build an advanced centrifuge enrichment plant if it chose to leave or disregard the JCPOA during the next few years.”

Recently, Tehran exceeded the amount of heavy water it is permitted to hold under the terms of the JCPOA for a second time. Heavy water is used for the development of nuclear weapons.

The German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, states in another intelligence report, “Regardless of the number of national and international sanctions and embargoes, countries like Iran, Pakistan and North Korea are making efforts to optimize technology… products and scientific knowhow in the field of developing weapons of mass destruction as well missile technology.”

“German companies in Rhineland-Palatinate were contacted in illegal procurement attempts by Pakistan, North Korea and Iran. The procurement attempts involved goods that were subject to authorization and approval on account of legal export restrictions and UN embargoes. These goods, for example, could be used for a state’s nuclear and missile programs,” was revealed in another state intelligence report.