Putin, Merkel Say Iran Nuclear Deal Must Be Preserved

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for the Iranian nuclear program, aimed at strengthening regional and global security, must be preserved, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday before talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

MESEBERG (Germany) (UrduPoint news / Sputnik - 18th August, 2018) The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for the Iranian nuclear program, aimed at strengthening regional and global security, must be preserved, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday before talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"We will discuss the situation around the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for the settlement of the Iranian nuclear program. It is extremely important to preserve this multilateral agreement approved by the UN Security Council and aimed at strengthening regional and global security and the nuclear non-proliferation regime," Putin said.

Merkel also confirmed her readiness to discuss Iran nuclear deal with Putin.

"We, of course, will talk about Iran, we want to preserve the JCPOA, but we are following Iran's activities with concern, be it the missile program or the situation in Syria," she said.

In May, US President Donald Trump announced that his country would exit the JCPOA, which stipulated the gradual lifting of the anti-Iran sanctions in exchange for Tehran maintaining the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. In addition, Trump decided to reinstate the previously lifted sanctions on Iran. The unilateral move has been opposed by other signatories to the agreement, which pledged commitment to the deal.