Russia Urges All Countries to Adhere to Iran Nuclear Agreement - Antonov

SAN FRANCISCO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 13th October, 2018) Russia is urging all nations to fulfill their obligations under the Iran nuclear agreement and considers the United States' unilateral pullout from the international deal a threat to the non-proliferation regime, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said on Friday.

"We call upon all countries to clearly and explicitly adhere to their obligations within the nuclear deal," Antonov told students at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California. "We think that the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the agreement poses a threat to the non-proliferation regime."

Antonov said the US decision to abandon the Iran nuclear agreement raises concerns about whether a Security Council resolution endorsing the agreement will be implemented.

"Should UN Security Council Resolution 2231 be executed if the United States considers itself not committed to its implementation?" Antonov said.

The Russian ambassador added that the US decision casts doubt on the country's commitment to upholding other UN Security Council resolutions.

"Does it mean that today one can adopt a decision within the UN Security Council and 'bail out' the next day," Antonov asked.

On May 8, the United States withdrew from the Iran deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran and any other country or entity doing business with Iranian companies.