Putin, Erdogan agree to coordinate steps on Iranian nuclear deal - Kremlin

MOSCOW, May 11. /TASS/. The presidents of Russia and Turkey, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdgan, agreed in a phone conversation on Thursday to coordinate their further steps regarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear program, the Kremlin press service said. "The situation, linked to United States’ unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear program, was discussed. It was stressed that the JCPOA is of utmost importance for international and regional security and also for the global non-proliferation," the Kremlin said in a statement. The sides also confirmed "Russia and Turkey’s determination for further cooperation with other participants of the Plan of Action and for coordination of measures in this context," the statement reads. During the conversation, held at Turkey’s initiative, Erdogan "warmly congratulated Vladimir Putin on the 73rd anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War and on his inauguration as president of the Russian Federation." Putin and Erdogan also discussed issues of Syrian settlement and implementation of important bilateral projects. In July 2015, Iran, five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, the UK, China, the US and France) and Germany reached an agreement to settle Tehran’s nuclear program and developed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). This document stipulates the lifting of sanctions introduced by the UN, the US and the EU on Iran over its nuclear program. In January 2016, the launch of the deal was declared, and Washington revoked the restrictions. US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Washington withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal as it provides Iran with possibilities of creating a nuclear bomb bypassing all currently in force restrictions under the agreement and added that another deal should be signed with Iran. He also promised to reintroduce sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear program and even impose new ones. He also stated that the US is ready to sign a new agreement instead of the JCPOA, but set de-facto impossible conditions for Iran. The UK, Germany and France stated that they would continue to fulfil the agreement. Russia’s Foreign Ministry pointed out that Moscow was disappointed by Washington’s move and said it was a cover for settling political scores with Tehran. Read more