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Putin, Rouhani Discuss Nuclear Deal, Region

Putin, Rouhani Discuss Nuclear Deal, Region
Putin, Rouhani Discuss Nuclear Deal, Region

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, discussed Tehran’s nuclear agreement and regional issues in a telephone conversation, the Kremlin said in a statement on Tuesday.   

The two leaders spoke of their determination to implement the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which US President Donald Trump has rejected and wants to renegotiate, Reuters reported. 

The two leaders also talked about the search for a political settlement in Syria, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the conflict in Yemen.  

  Renewed Commitment 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, also reiterated their support for the full implementation of the nuclear pact during a telephone conversation on Monday. 

They spoke “in favor of strict observance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the settlement of the situation around Iran’s nuclear program”, TASS news agency reported, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry. 

Moscow and Paris have, on various occasions, reaffirmed their commitment to the 2015 accord, formally known as the JCPOA. 

However, France has called for an “uncompromising” dialogue with Iran about its ballistic missile program and a possible negotiation over the issue separate from the nuclear pact, according to Reuters. Iran has repeatedly said its missile program is defensive and not negotiable.

Trump gave the nuclear agreement a final reprieve on January 12 but warned European allies and the US Congress they have to work with him to fix “the disastrous flaws” in the pact or face a US exit. Iran says the deal is not renegotiable.

The US administration has also been trying to persuade the European nations that negotiated the agreement to accept side deals under which they would join the US in reimposing sanctions if Tehran continues ballistic missile testing. 

  Impossible Revision 

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov believes that tense relations between Washington and Tehran make it impossible to revise or amend the nuclear deal. 

“It is impossible to revise the Iran nuclear deal … improve, supplement, correct it in the current situation. Too much has happened recently, aggravating the mistrust between Washington and Tehran,” Ryabkov said in a recent interview with Russia’s Izvestiya newspaper, Sputnik reported on Monday. 

The diplomat said there are a range of issues unrelated to the contents of the JCPOA, which the US has been adding to the international agenda.

“Iran is accused of all kinds of offenses and criticized for actions, which, in our view, reflects the attempts of the [US] to secure its own interests. Instead of having a normal dialogue, the US applies blackmail methods,” Ryabkov added. 

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