Russia says US, E3 toying with Iran nuclear deal not smart idea

“[Moscow] does not expect any positive developments in the light of such decisions and possible agreements… We do not believe that any agreements and understanding that might be achieved in this format, without involving Iran and other parties to the JCPOA, will have any impact in terms of maintaining our position to support full implementation of the agreement without any adjustments,” Ryabkov said.

He stressed that Moscow had repeatedly stated that the issue of potential “improvement” of the nuclear deal “is becoming clearly targeted at jeopardizing the deal, complicating its further implementation.”

“But, of course, we will follow this [issue], although we understand that these ‘games’ of the United States and its European allies will not have any influence on our position, our approach to the JCPOA and the importance of ensuring its normal implementation in its current form,” the diplomat stressed.

Moscow will consider a proposal to join the contact group on Iran, if it receives any, but is concerned about trend toward close and separate forms of negotiations, which the US and its Western partners have recently resorted to, Sergei Ryabkov stressed.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced that the working group comprising the US and EU diplomats had been established to discuss approaches to Iran and concerns with the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).