US Ditching of Iran Nuclear Deal Could Hurt Global Security–Kremlin

The Kremlin warns the United States that any move to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries will deal a heavy blow to international security and non-proliferation efforts, according to Press T.V

Speaking to journalists on Friday, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said any US measure against the nuclear deal would have “very negative consequences.”

“This could seriously aggravate the situation around the Iranian nuclear dossier,” he said.

“Such actions will unequivocally damage the atmosphere of predictability, security, stability and non-proliferation in the entire world,” he added.

The spokesman emphasized that Russia would continue its policy to ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The Kremlin warning comes hours before US President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a speech to criticize the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The deal, agreed between Iran and the six permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia – plus Germany lifts economic sanctions imposed in 2005 in exchange for curbs to Tehran’s nuclear program. It was later endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

Trump has called the deal an “embarrassment” to the US, and is expected to refuse to certify Iran’s commitment to the deal during a White House speech later on Friday.

If Trump refuses to certify the agreement, the US Congress will have 60 days to decide whether to restore the anti-Iran sanctions Washington has agreed to waive.

Russia fully committed to nuclear deal, says  Lavrov

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would remain fully committed to the JCPOA.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif held a telephone conversation before Trump’s speech.

It added that the Russian foreign minister expressed his country’s firm determination to implement the JCPOA in the form in which it was approved by the United Nations Security Council.

R.S