TEHRAN, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday that if the parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iranian 2015 nuclear deal, do not adhere to their commitments, Iran will stop inspections pertaining to the Additional Protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"The parliament Law of Strategic Action Plan (to Counter Sanctions) is completely clear. If JCPOA parties fail to comply with their obligations, Iran should stop inspections pertaining to the Additional Protocol of the IAEA, which Iran is implementing voluntarily," the spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in his weekly press conference.

"However, Iran's cooperation with the IAEA will not be suspended, and it does not mean the expel of IAEA inspectors in general, but it means the cessation of inspections related to the additional protocol," he said.

Earlier in the month, Iran launched 20-percent uranium enrichment process as part of Iran's Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions which was approved by the parliament in December 2020.

In response to the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal in 2018 and re-imposition of sanctions, Iran has suspended implementing parts of its obligations under the JCPOA.