Russia Says Revising Iran Nuclear Deal Is Impossible

Speaking to the Moscow-based Izvestia newspaper, Ryabkov said that revision of the content of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) which Washington insists is impossible because of the mistrust between Tehran and Washington in light of the current events.

He said that the US demand for reviewing the JCPOA is unacceptable and will undermine the multilateral agreement.

“Iran is demonized and criticized for actions that, in our opinion, are a reflection of the country’s efforts to ensure its own interests,” Ryabkov noted.

The Russian official noted that the US is blackmailing Iran and pressuring the country instead of conducting a normal dialogue.

Ryabkov stressed that US withdraw from Iran nuclear agreement will have a very negative effect on the non-proliferation regime.

He said that withdrawing the nuclear agreement with Iran will discredit the US prestige and its commitment to international agreements.

Earlier, Trump waived a series of sanctions against Iran as required under the JCPOA, but warned the European allies and the US Congress that it will be the last such waiver he signs if they fail to agree to radical changes to the nuclear deal.

With his announcement, Trump in effect began a four-month countdown until the US carries out its threat to withdraw from the JCPOA. The next sanctions waivers fall due on 12 May.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has made it clear that the JCPOA is a valid international document that would not be renegotiated at all.

Since the historic deal was signed in Vienna in July 2015, the IAEA has repeatedly confirmed the Islamic Republic’s compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA, but some other parties, especially the US, have failed to live up to their undertakings.