Iran nuclear deal one of intl. community’s most important achievements: Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has praised the international nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), describing it as one of the most important achievements of the international community.

“We hear signals from the White House regarding President [Donald] Trump's intentions to take a final decision on whether to continue to participate in the agreement on the settlement of the Iranian nuclear program. We believe that this program is one of the most important achievements of the international community. This program makes its implementation a real contribution to strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime and it would be very important to keep it,” Lavrov said at the fourth edition of the International Forum of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) Graduates in the Kazakh capital city of Astana on Friday.

The top Russian diplomat then demanded the participation of the United States in the deal, terming it “a very significant factor” concerning its implementation.

“We hope that the communication that is currently taking place between European states and other members of the international community, and Washington, in the course of which these topics are addressed, will not be in vain. And that the final decision that will be made by the President of the United States will be measured and result from today’s realities which show that this program is demanded,” Lavrov pointed out.

Top Russian lawmaker condemns Trump’s ‘provocative’ talk on Iran

Meanwhile, a senior Russian legislator has censured the latest remarks by Trump on the JCPOA as “provocative and baseless.”

“Trump’s statements on Iran are alarming. His accusations that Tehran fails to support the spirit of the JCPOA are provocative and yet baseless; especially given the fact that there are no signs of any violations of the nuclear deal by Iran,” Head of the State Duma Committee for International Affairs, Leonid Slutsky, said on Friday.

“If Washington decides to break the agreement with Iran, it will be direct violation of the UN Security Council’s resolution, which EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned about,” Slutsky stated.

“The JCPOA is not a bilateral agreement. It was signed between Tehran and all five UN Security Council permanent members – the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia – plus Germany. The efforts of this six-nation group have already urged Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its nuclear program,” the Russian legislator highlighted.

Speaking during a meeting with senior military leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on Thursday, Trump alleged that Tehran has “ not lived up to the spirit of the agreement.”

“We must put an end to Iran's continued aggression and nuclear ambitions,” he said. “You will be hearing about Iran very shortly.”

The Republican president faces an October 15 deadline to certify Iran’s compliance with the international pact. Such certification is needed by US law every 90 days in order for Congress to continue to withhold nuclear-related sanctions against Iran.

Trump’s argument that Iran is not complying with the deal would translate as US withdrawal from the JCPOA.

The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the White House strategy, reported on Thursday that Trump will declare that the JCPOA does not serve the national interests of the United States.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk