Russian Senator Urges Prompt Diplomacy to Stop Iran From Scrapping Nuclear Deal

Russian senator Vladimir Dzhabarov said that rapid diplomatic efforts are needed to address Iran's threat of exiting the two-year international agreement curbing its nuclear program.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Prompt diplomatic efforts are needed to address Iran's threat of exiting the two-year international agreement curbing its nuclear program, Russian senator Vladimir Dzhabarov told Sputnik on Tuesday.

"Diplomats must now get in on the case, otherwise it will be cannons that will speak," Dzhabarov, first deputy chairman of the Federation Council's foreign affairs committee, said.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in an address to lawmakers earlier in the day that Tehran could leave the nuclear deal "in hours" if the United States continues expanding sanctions.

"This is an absolutely real threat. If Iran withdraws from this agreement, there is immediately a hotbed of tensions in the Middle East," the Russian senator stressed.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, was signed in July 2015 by P5+1 group of countries. The agreement stipulates the lifting of UN, EU and US nuclear-related sanctions on Iran in exchange for the suspension of Tehran's nuclear weapons program. The plan came into force on January 16, 2016.