Concerned Russia: Iran’s Withdraw from 2015 Nuclear Agreement Failure to Int’l Community

Local Editor

Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that it is concerned over Iran's possible withdrawal from 2015 nuclear deal.

"Tehran's possible withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement due to the United States' anti-Iran rhetoric would signal the failure of the international community," the Russian Foreign Ministry told Sputnik.

US media reported that the Trump administration was looking to 'drive a wedge' between Russia and Iran in its effort to improve relations with Moscow while confronting Tehran.

Mikhail Ulyanov, the head of the ministry's Department for Nonproliferation and Arms Control, said "there are indeed concerns because we see rather harsh rhetoric from the US administration and Tehran's reciprocal tough rhetoric."

"You ask if there is a threat of Tehran's withdrawal? I believe that such an outcome would be a major failure for the entire international community," Ulyanov said.

The Russian diplomat pointed out that sanctions the US imposed on Iran last week create a "highly unfavorable climate" toward the further implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA].

Ulyanov also addressed US President Donald Trump's criticism of the JCPOA as "the worst deal ever negotiated."

"Objectively, this agreement was and is, maybe not ideal, but the most optimal of the possible ways out of a very difficult situation. It is a reasonable and very delicate compromise."

Iran, five permanent UN Security Council members, Germany and the European Union signed the JCPOA in July 2015 to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

Under the agreement, Iran pledged to refrain from developing or acquiring nuclear weapons in exchange for the lifting of sanctions imposed against Iran. A UN resolution was passed shortly afterwards, reaffirming the nuclear agreement.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team