Putin: Failure to Save Nuclear Deal Would Have Lamentable Consequences

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia appreciated efforts by Europe to save the Iran nuclear deal despite the withdrawal of the United States and warned of “lamentable consequences” if it was not preserved.
Putin made the comment in a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, offering some support for the French leader’s plan for negotiating a broader agreement with Tehran to cover Iran’s ballistics program and its activities in the Middle East, Reuters reported.
“I was personally assured that Iran is fulfilling all its obligations, so the question arises what grounds there were to exit this agreement,” Putin said. “We welcome the efforts of Iran and Europe to preserve this deal, while understanding that it will be hard.”
“Russia has never approved unilateral actions,” he added, referring to the renewed US sanctions against Iran. “Any action against a sovereign government can be taken only by United Nations Security Council, all the rest are illegitimate.”
 “Certainly we can discuss Iran’s ballistic missiles. We can discuss Iran’s policies in the Middle East and its nuclear activities after 2025,” Putin said.