Global Geopolitical Series: Russia rules out modifying JCPOA as Trump signals 120-day negotiating window

Russia’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov during his annual press conference earlier this week cleared that Moscow will not be entertaining any attempts made by Washington to modify the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as Iran nuclear agreement, arguing that such a move would complicate ongoing effort to reign over North Korea’s nuclear program. Lavrov said, “We will not support what the United States is trying to do, changing the wording of the agreement, incorporating things that will be absolutely unacceptable for Iran…. if the deal is put aside and Iran is told, 'you keep up with your obligations or we will impose sanctions again', then you have to see it from North Korea's point of view…..They are being promised that sanctions will be lifted if they give up their nuclear program. They will give it up, but no one will lift the sanctions against Pyongyang."

His comments came in response to President Trump’s warning that he is signing the Iran sanctions waiver for the last time and unless the terrible flaws in the agreement could be fixed by Washington lawmakers, and the European allies. In every 120 days, the President of the United States needs to sign a sanctions waiver on Iran or the sanctions would be reimposed. President Trump repeatedly criticized the agreement by calling it as one of the worst deals ever made. In October, he refused to certify Iran’s compliance with the agreement.

In 2015, Iran and six world powers including both Russia and the United States agreed to JCPOA, which grants sanctions relief to Iran in response to its curb on nuclear ambition.