File photo: U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during "Stop the Iran Deal" rally at West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Sept. 9, 2015. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan)

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Tuesday that if U.S. President Donald Trump tells Congress that Iran violates a 2015 nuclear deal, it doesn't mean the United States is withdrawing from the nuclear deal.

"If the president chooses not to certify Iranian compliance, that does not mean the United States is withdrawing from the JCPOA" (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), said Haley here at an event, referring to the Iran nuclear deal reached between Iran and six world major countries, namely the United States, Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany.

Rather, the move would signal one or more of three messages to Congress, she added.

"Either the Administration believes Iran is in violation of the deal; or the lifting of sanctions against Iran is not appropriate and proportional to the regime's behavior; or the lifting of sanctions is not in the U.S. national security interest," said Haley.

The nuclear deal set limits on Iran's nuclear activities and allowed regular inspections of the facilities inside Iran.

In return, the United States and the European Union will suspend nuclear-related sanctions against Iran, with the lifting of all past UN Security Council sanction resolutions.

Under U.S. law, the U.S. State Department is required every 90 days to recertify to Congress Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal.

So far, the Trump administration had recertified Iran's compliance with the deal twice and the next deadline for recertification comes due on Oct. 15, 2017.

According to local media reports, Trump reportedly clashed with his national security team members on whether or not he should recertify Iran's compliance in July and soon after the second recertification, Trump told The Wall Street Journal that he "personally" would expect Iran to be declared noncompliant in October.

Haley on Tuesday said that she did not know what decision Trump would make.