Iran’s president urges end to US unilateralism in talks with Russian counterpart

Iran’s president says measures must be taken to oppose US unilateralism, while emphasizing the necessity for preserving the landmark nuclear deal clinched by the Islamic Republic and world powers in 2015.

Hassan Rouhani made the remarks in a phone call to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Thursday, during which the two sides discussed international developments as well as issues of mutual interest.

Stressing the need to maintain Iran’s nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and ensure its full implementation as an international commitment by all signatories, Rouhani highlighted the urgency of countering US unilateralism in international relations.

Iran’s president also called for efforts to counteract recent measures taken by the United States to extend an arms embargo on the Islamic Republic, which will be lifted this October as per the JCPOA.

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Putin and Merkel say there is "no point" in sanctions pressure against Iran.

The nuclear agreement was reached between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1 group -- the US, Britain, France, Russia, and China plus Germany -- in 2015 in Austrian capital, Vienna.

In May 2018, US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled his country out of the deal and later re-imposed the sanctions that had been lifted against Tehran, because of it. The US’ intransigence flew in the face of the fact that the accord has been ratified by the United Nations Security Council in the form of its Resolution 2231.

Although it is no longer a party to the deal, Washington has recently launched a campaign to renew the embargo that concerns the sales of conventional weapons to the Islamic Republic.

To try and rationalize its bid, the US says it is still “named” as a JCPOA partner in Resolution 223. Tehran and other JCPOA partners say Washington, due to its unilateral withdrawal, has forfeited all rights to have any say in the agreement.

The US recently served the UNSC with a draft resolution on extension of the arms embargo, with American Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft saying Washington will push the Council to vote on the draft as soon as mid-July.

Cornered at UNSC, US faces historic rebuke from world powers over Iran

At the UNSC, the US faces a rebuke from world powers, including its own allies, over its hostile push to secure an extension of the anti-Iran UN arms embargo.

Washington has threatened to force a “snapback” of all sanctions against Iran if its drive to renew the arms embargo failed.

Putin: JCPOA must be implemented, preserved

Putin, for his part, reemphasized Russia’s position on the JCPOA, saying, “As has been the case during the past five years, we continue to support this international agreement, and insist on its implementation and preservation.”

Russia has also warned the US that -- along with Beijing -- it would veto the Washington-drafted resolution that aims to extend the anti-Iran embargo.

Russia: US bid to extend Iran embargo compromises JCPOA

Russia says the US’s bid to extend an arms embargo on Iran that is expected to expire under Tehran’s nuclear deal with world countries jeopardizes the agreement.

During the phone conversation, Rouhani also recalled his joining a virtual meeting focusing on Syria alongside Putin and their Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 1.

The three countries have been working together since early 2017 to help enforce an all-out ceasefire in the Arab country, with hopes of ending years of foreign-backed terrorism. Relevant talks between the three sides have mostly been taking place in the Kazakh capital, Nur-Sultan, previously known as Astana.

Rouhani laid emphasis on continuation of trilateral cooperation within the Astana format towards realization of the joint goal, especially betterment of the humanitarian situation in Syria.

The Iranian chief executive finally underlined the importance of Russo-Iranian cooperation and exchange of relevant experiences between the two sides as means of confronting the new coronavirus in light of resurgence of the outbreak over the past months.

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