Russia Says Will Develop Iran Ties If US Leaves JCPOA

Russia will stand by the Iran nuclear deal and develop closer ties with Iran if US President Donald Trump withdraws from the agreement on May 12, a senior Russian official said on Friday.
Vladimir Yermakov, director general of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control at Russia’s Foreign Ministry, told reporters that a US withdrawal from the 2015 accord, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, did not necessarily mean the end of the deal, Reuters reported.
“It might even be easier for us on the economic front, because we won’t have any limits on economic cooperation with Iran. We would develop bilateral relations in all areas–energy, transport, high tech, medicine,” he said.
Trump, a long-time critic of the deal struck by major world powers, has threatened to pull out unless a follow-on agreement is reached to fix what he calls its “flaws.”