Russia and China maintain excellent relations with Iran post the Washingtons withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for Iran’s nuclear program. Other nations, including India, have failed to comply with their obligations, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said without directly naming India.
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“Our friends, Russia and China, have been maintaining very good relations with us in the year since the US pulled out of the JCPOA, though perhaps the level of relations is not as high as we expected,” he said. “Other JCPOA participants chose not to fulfil any of their obligations,” Zarif added.
Earlier in the day, Iran threatened to resume higher enrichment of uranium in 60 days if world powers fail to negotiate new terms for the 2015 deal. A key Iranian ally and trading partner, China was a signatory to the deal and continues to support it, along with Britain, Russia, the European Union, France and Germany.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the situation surrounding the fate of the 2015 Iran nuclear accord has been complicated by “irresponsible behaviour” from Washington.
Lavrov is meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Moscow on Wednesday. The nuclear deal will be at the top of their agenda after Iran announced it would suspend some of its commitments in response to U.S. sanctions.
Lavrov says they will discuss the “unacceptable situation” that has been exacerbated by the United States. Russia appears poised to stand by Tehran and cast blame on Washington, which withdrew from the nuclear deal last year. Moscow is a signatory to the deal, along with the European Union, Britain, France, Germany and China.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned there would be consequences for “ill-advised” steps taken by the U.S. against Iran.
