Risk of repeating Iran deal fate should not hamper DPRK denuclearization - Putin

VLADIVOSTOK, September 12. /TASS/. The risk of the situation with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran being repeated in case with North Korea should not stop progress in the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Eastern Economic Forum’s plenary session on Wednesday. "Of course, such risks always lie in wait for us. That does not mean, however, that we do not have to do anything and does not mean that we should not move forward," he said. Putin noted that only Washington and Tehran participated directly in the negotiations with Iran. "We just accompanied, supported that process, to be honest. The [JCPOA] is based on their agreements," the head of state added. In May, US President Donald Trump announced Washington’s decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, which restricts Tehran’s nuclear activities in return for the removal of the UN Security Council’s sanctions and the unilateral restrictive measures imposed by the US and the EU. Other parties to the deal (Russia, the UK, Germany, China and France) disagree with Washington’s stance and continue to be committed to the agreement. The Fourth Eastern Economic Forum is being held in Russia’s Far Eastern city of Vladivostok on September 11-13. TASS is the general information partner and the official photohost agency of the event. The news agency is also the moderator of the forum’s presentation zone. Read more