MOSCOW. July 16 (Interfax) - The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program guarantees nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"As regards the Iranian nuclear program, Russia's position remains unchanged: we believe the JCPOA is a tool that provides an opportunity to guarantee nonproliferation of nuclear weapons on the whole and in the region in particular," Putin said in an exclusive interview with Russia's Channel One television on Monday evening.
"Iran is among the countries most controlled by the IAEA [the International Atomic Energy Agency], and it would be too bad if this tool ceased to exist," Putin said.
"We understand what the U.S. president thinks and how he thinks. He has said about this once again," Putin said, with reference to his talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Helsinki on Monday.
"The U.S. would like to draw Iran's attention to its regional policy, its missile programs. But, in our view, this should not lead to the JCPOA's dismantlement," he said.