MOSCOW, April 25. /TASS/. The Kremlin is in favor of preserving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran’s nuclear program, since it is hardly possible to repeat the meticulous work done while preparing it.
"We are in favor of preserving the JCPOA in its present form. We also believe there is no alternative [to it] yet," Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that statements on that have been made more than once at various levels.
He recalled that "the JCPOA in its current form was a product of meticulous and intense diplomatic efforts by many states." "These efforts deserve high praise. Whether or not it is possible to repeat such successful work in the current situation - that’s a big question," the Kremlin spokesman emphasized.
According to Peskov, Iran’s stance on the JCPOA is the core issue during the discussion of new potential agreements on Tehran's nuclear program. "That’s the main, key issue," he noted.
"We do not know what you are talking about," the Kremlin spokesman said when asked whether Russia will back new potential agreements on Iran’s nuclear programs, which were discussed by US and French Presidents Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron.
Washington’s and Paris’ stance
French President Emmanuel Macron earlier told reporters at a joint news conference with his US counterpart Donald Trump that Paris is ready to work, together with Washington, on a new agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program. According to Macron, it is necessary to tackle four issues: to block the nuclear program until 2025, to provide a solution in the long run, to halt Iran’s ballistic missile program and promote stability in the region.
The deal on Iran’s nuclear program, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was reached between Iran and six international mediators (Russia, the UK, China, the US, France and Germany) on July 14, 2015. In January 2016, the parties to the deal announced the beginning of its implementation. Under the deal, Iran undertook to curb its nuclear activities and place them under total control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in exchange of lifting the sanctions imposed previously by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union and the United States over its nuclear program.
Trump stated on numerous occasions that the Iran nuclear deal was flawed arguing that it did not prevent the creation of nuclear weapons by Iran but only postponed it. On January 12, 2018, he said Washington would withdraw from the agreement if it was not amended.