Russia says Iran nuclear deal cannot be saved without US

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday ruled out the possibility of salvaging the Iranian nuclear deal if President Donald Trump decides to pull the United States out of the agreement.

"This agreement cannot be implemented if one of the participants unilaterally steps out of it," Lavrov told a news conference at the United Nations.

"It will fall apart and there will be no deal then," he said, adding: "I think everyone understands that."

Trump last week agreed to again waive US nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, but demanded that US lawmakers and European allies fix the "disastrous flaws" in the deal or face a US exit.

"This is a decisive moment," Lavrov said.

Russia and the United States are among the six world powers that signed the 2015 landmark deal with Iran that aims to curb Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.

Lavrov made clear that there would be no attempt by Russia to salvage it with the five remaining powers, if the United States pulls out.

Russia will make every effort to persuade the United States "not to touch this thing," said Lavrov, saying that the deal was "not dead yet."

The foreign minister again made the argument that killing off the Iran nuclear deal would also compromise any bid to persuade North Korea to scrap its nuclear arsenal.

If the Iranian nuclear deal is not upheld, "how can we ask North Korea to use the same option" and abandon its nuclear ambitions, asked Lavrov.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council this week that it was in the world's interest that the nuclear agreement "be preserved."

US lawmakers aim to tighten terms of Iran nuclear deal
Washington (AFP) Jan 19, 2018 - A bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives on Thursday aimed at tightening the terms of the Iran nuclear deal, despite Tehran's rejection of changes to the accord.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the agreement aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program, which was agreed under his predecessor Barack Obama's administration.

The "Iran Freedom Policy and Sanctions Act" was introduced by Peter Roskam and backed by Liz Cheney, two Republicans in the US House of Representatives.

The proposed legislation "makes clear what any effective agreement would have to contain," Cheney said in a statement.

A deal with Iran would need to "at a minimum, authorize anywhere, anytime inspections including inspections of military facilities; disclosure of all past and present, military and civilian nuclear activity; a ban on weapons-grade enrichment; and a restriction on ballistic missile development," said Cheney.

The legislation "will ensure that sanctions on Iran will only be relaxed if Iran meets these crucial requirements," said Cheney, criticizing the current agreement for allegedly delivering "sanctions relief and cash payments to the Iranian regime in exchange for unverifiable promises."

A parallel bill aimed at toughening the nuclear deal is under consideration in the Senate.

Trump again waived nuclear-related sanctions last week -- as required every few months to stay in the agreement -- but demanded European partners work with Washington to "fix the deal's disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw."

Iran's foreign ministry has said it "will not accept any amendments in this agreement" -- and the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed Tehran's compliance with the current agreement.

The other parties to the deal -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union -- have all said it is working and that Iran is complying fully with its commitments.

Russia at UN warns collapse of Iran deal would be 'alarming'
United Nations, United States (AFP) Jan 18, 2018
Russia on Thursday warned at the UN Security Council that the collapse of the Iranian nuclear deal would send an "alarming" message to the world and compromise efforts to persuade North Korea to scrap its nuclear arsenal. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a council meeting on non-proliferation that the 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was a major diplomatic ... read more

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