US ditching of Iran nuclear deal could hurt global security: Kremlin

The Kremlin warns the United States that any move to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries will deal a heavy blow to international security and non-proliferation efforts.

According to reports, speaking to journalists on Friday, Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said any US measure against the nuclear deal would have “very negative consequences.”

“This could seriously aggravate the situation around the Iranian nuclear dossier," he said.

“Such actions will unequivocally damage the atmosphere of predictability, security, stability and non-proliferation in the entire world,” he added.

The spokesman emphasized that Russia would continue its policy to ensure the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The Kremlin warning comes hours before US President Donald Trump is expected to deliver a speech to criticize the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country would remain fully committed to the JCPOA.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif held a telephone conversation before Trump’s speech.

It added that the Russian foreign minister expressed his country’s firm determination to implement the JCPOA in the form in which it was approved by the United Nations Security Council.

SS