Iranian official: Iran won't accept any amendment to nuclear deal

ANKARA – A top adviser to Iran's supreme leader said on Thursday Tehran would not accept any change to its nuclear deal, as Western signatories prepare a new package in the hope of persuading US President Donald Trump to stick with the accord.

A May 12 deadline is looming for Trump to decide on whether to re-impose US economic sanctions on Tehran. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he had discussed a "new deal" with Trump in which the United States and Europe would tackle outstanding concerns about Iran beyond its nuclear program.

"Any change or amendment to the current deal will not be accepted by Iran," said Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars reported.

"If Trump exits the deal, Iran will surely pull out of it ... Iran will not accept a nuclear deal with no benefits for us," Velayati told journalists.