Russia's Foreign Ministry Comments on U.S. Response to Protests in Iran

Moscow is concerned that the United States is focusing on protests in Iran rather than on restoring a joint, comprehensive plan of action regarding Iran's nuclear program, said Vladimir Ermakov, director of the Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, according to RIA Novosti.

“Of course, it is alarming that our American partners, including the U.S. special representative for Iran, Robert Malley, have recently preferred to speak more about protests and human rights in Iran, while trying to talk about the JCPOA in a calmer and as vague manner as possible,” said Ermakov.

In 2015, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, Russia, the United States, France, and Iran signed a nuclear agreement concerning Iran's nuclear program known as the JCPOA, which included the lifting of sanctions in exchange for limitations on Iran's nuclear activities.

In May 2018, the United States withdrew from the JCPOA under Donald Trump and reinstated sanctions against Tehran. In response, Iran announced a phased reduction of its commitments under the agreement by abandoning limitations on nuclear research, centrifuges, and uranium enrichment levels.