Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed his concern over US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to toughen the Iranian nuclear deal, saying the search for a new settlement was “dangerous”.
“Trump’s recent comments do not inspire optimism and do not promote stability,” Lavrov told a news conference. “This historic agreement between Iran and the great powers.
“We will continue to work to maintain the agreement,” he said.
“We will continue to work until we make sure that the United States has accepted the truth and the fact is that Iran respects its commitments,” said Lavrov, according to an agreement signed in 2015 after long and difficult negotiations.
After announcing the extension of the suspension of economic sanctions imposed on Iran “for the last time,” Trump Friday gave the Europeans help to tighten the terms of this agreement, if they want to avoid the withdrawal of Washington from it.
Lavrov warned Monday that the Europeans were “seeking a settlement” after the US ultimatum. “This may take them to a bad course, towards a very dangerous direction.”
The Russian foreign minister went so far as to warn that a withdrawal from the nuclear deal with Iran would have a negative impact on the North Korean crisis. “If (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un is asked to stop the military nuclear program and in return he promised to lift the sanctions … This is precisely the essence of the agreements between the international community and Iran,” he said.
“If these arrangements are canceled and Iran is informed that it must stay within its commitments and we will reinstate sanctions … put yourself in North Korea’s place,” he said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Saturday that the United States would make a “big mistake” if it withdrew from Iran’s nuclear deal.
Tehran, which has rejected any amendment to the landmark agreement, still has the support of other major signatories – Russia, Britain, China and France – as well as Germany and the European Union.