The danger that military tensions in the Middle East will mount after the US decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal is growing, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said, speaking at the meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club.
"Major reasons for the US withdrawal from the JCPOA on the Iranian nuclear program are not linked to the agreement itself, but to Washington’s approach to Tehran’s policy in the Middle East, he said.
Ryabkov said that Moscow considers it possible to preserve the Iran nuclear deal with sufficient political will of its participants and despite the US’ withdrawal. "We need to determine parameters for work within the JCPOA without the US," he noted. "We believe that it is possible both in theory and in practice. Much depends on the politicians’ will, chiefly in the European countries."
The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that the United States will not revise its decision to pull out of the Iranian nuclear deal, he said. "The Foreign Ministry believes the US will not change its mind. President Donald Trump will translate into life what he said on May 8," TASS cited Ryabkov as saying.
According to the senior diplomat, maintaining the deal will depend on whether "the Europeans are ready to provide European economic entities with such a level of protection that would allow them to continue cooperating with Iran following the resumption of extraterritorial US sanctions."
At the same time, Ryabkov pointed out that it would be possible to ensure the protection of companies cooperating with Iran. "I think it is quite possible," he said in response to a question on the matter.
"It is most important that certain elements of Iran’s policy in the region, and also its missile program arouse resentment of the United States and its allies," Ryabkov said.
The diplomat added that Russia will comply with its liabilities within framework of the JCPOA regarding the Iranian nuclear program to reconfigure the Fordow enrichment facility - "to the extent the other partakers will adhere to the agreement."
