Iran nuclear deal vital for strategic stability: Russia

Speaking at an international non-proliferation conference in Moscow on Friday, Lavrov said any unilateral changes to the 2015 agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), "could bury this agreement, which is vital for strategic stability and nuclear non-proliferation."Lavrov described any prospect of returning to the pre-JCPOA situation as "impossible," saying, "Restoring the UN Security Council sanctions [on Iran] is out of the question."The Russian foreign minister rejected the need for further inspection of Iran's nuclear sites beyond the JCPOA requirements, noting that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "performs regular checks and confirms their [Iran's] strict fulfillment of obligations."Touching on US demands for renegotiating the JCPOA, Lavrov stated that any changes to the deal would require the approval of all the parties to the accord, including Iran.The comments came a week after US President Donald Trump refused to formally certify that Iran is complying with the deal, and warned that he might ultimately terminate the agreement.While Trump did not pull Washington out of the nuclear deal, he gave the US Congress 60 days to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the pact. Reimposing sanctions would put the US at odds with other signatories to the accord, including the European Union, which has sharply criticized Washington's decision about the deal.This is while all other signatories -- Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China -- have stressed their full commitment to the JCPOA.

Source: PressTV