Moscow, Tehran discuss further steps on fulfilling Iran nuclear deal - Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. Russia and Iran discussed further steps on implementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on settling the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi held consultations. "The sides had a detailed exchange of views on the current situation around the JCPOA on settling the situation around the Iranian nuclear program given the refusal of US President Donald Trump to confirm to Congress that Iran is meeting its commitments in good faith," the ministry said in a statement after the meeting. The diplomats discussed "the tasks of further coordinating the actions of Russia and Iran in the interests of preserving the JCPOA and developing bilateral cooperation." "Ryabkov confirmed the plans of the Russian side to continue meeting its commitments in line with the JCPOA," the ministry stressed. They also discussed other topical issues of mutual interest. Last week, Trump unveiled Washington’s new strategy against Teheran, saying that the United States will seek to offset Iran’s destabilizing influence. Besides, the US included the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite branch of Iran’s Armed Forces, into the list of organizations supporting terrorism. The deal on Iran’s nuclear program was reached between Iran and six international mediators (the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia, the United States, and France) on July 14, 2015. On January 16, 2016, the parties to the deal announced beginning of its implementation. Under the deal, Iran undertakes to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange of abandonment of the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program. Read more