Moscow does not rule out Iran’s pullout from nuclear deal — diplomat

MOSCOW, May 15. /TASS/. Moscow does not rule out a scenario of Iran’s pullout from the nuclear deal, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said at a session of the Valdai international discussion club on Tuesday.

"I believe that the scenario of Iran’s withdrawal from the agreement can’t be fully ruled out, if Iran does not agree with the other participants on a basis suitable for it," Ryabkov said.

"I want to note that the entire situation has again extremely intensified," the high-ranking diplomat noted.

"I’m saying this to indicate the possibility of the emergence of new factors, inputs that may influence sentiments in very diverse capitals, including, probably, Tehran as well," he said.

Moscow will fulfill its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Iran’s nuclear program to the same extent as other participants, he said.

"We have already said and continue to say that we are ready to fully comply with the JCPOA as long as other participants do the same, and to the same extent," he said.

"I am not prepared to evaluate the position of our Iranian counterparts concerning these developments," Ryabkov said when asked about Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA. "Their high-ranking officials have made many statements recently, which are rather clear. We focus on these statements while assessing Iran’s approach to this issue," he added.

Russia does not see itself as a mediator between the United States and Iran in the nuclear deal, he went on. 

"We do not see ourselves as a mediator between Iran and the US," he said.

"We consider ourselves as one of the participants in the accord and we are going to fulfil it and are in close contact and dialogue with all the other participants," Ryabkov said.