Russia believes Iran nuclear deal may be preserved without US’ participation - deputy foreign minister

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Moscow considers it possible to preserve the Iran nuclear deal with sufficient political will of its participants, despite the US’ withdrawal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in his speech at a Valdai Discussion Club session on Tuesday. "We need to determine parameters for work within the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] without the US," he noted. "We believe that it is possible both in theory and in practice. Much depends on the politicians’ will, chiefly in the European countries." On May 8, US President Donald Trump declared Washington’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - a deal that restricts Tehran’s nuclear developments in exchange for abolishment of the corresponding sanctions of the UN Security Council and the unilateral restrictive measures earlier introduced by the US and the EU. Trump promised both to revive the old sanctions and launch new ones. He also stated that the US is ready to ink a new agreement. However, Washington set hardly realizable terms for Tehran. The leaders of the UK, Germany and France - Theresa May, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron - called on all participants of the deal to continue its full implementation. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani stated that the European Union should guarantee for Iran the observance of its interests under the JCPOA in order to preserve the agreement. Tehran confirmed its intention to remain in the JCPOA and continue to observe its obligations. Russia’s acting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the US’ withdrawal from the JCPOA is violation of the UN Security Council resolution and noted that Russia will strive to keep the agreement, despite Washington’s attempts to renew the sanctions regime against Tehran. Read more