Russia urges international community to trade with Iran

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russia has urged the international community to continue trade with Iran despite U.S. sanctions, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

In a statement published on its official website, the ministry condemned U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal as well as pressure tactics by Washington on other countries to stop trade with Iran.

The ministry stressed that Iran "scrupulously" carries out its obligations under the deal and its decision to suspend it partially was a last-ditch stand.

Russia called all participants of the deal, including Iran, to refrain from further actions to put the agreement under threat.

Earlier this week, Iran threatened to abandon parts of the deal because of unfulfilled promises of world powers and new U.S. sanctions on Tehran.

Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his country from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany).

Shortly afterward, Washington re-imposed economic sanctions on Iran targeting the country’s energy and banking sectors.