Russia Warns Iran Nuclear Deal Is 'In Danger Of Falling Apart'

Iran's nuclear deal with world powers is "in danger of falling apart", Russia's foreign minister has warned.

Speaking after meeting his Iranian counterpart in Moscow, Sergei Lavrov warned the agreement is in danger of collapsing without the US and the European Union.

The 2015 deal between Iran and the UK, France, Germany, Russia, China and the US lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear programme.

However, the US withdrew from the deal last year and re-imposed crippling economic sanctions that block Iran from selling crude oil abroad.

"Because of the destructive line that Washington keeps towing, this important achievement of international diplomacy... is in danger of falling apart," Mr Lavrov said. 

He also said that "colleagues from the European Union" were not fully complying with the agreement either.

In response to the US sanctions, Iran has pressured the European signatories to find a way to limit the impact on the Iranian economy.

However, relations between Europe and Iran have also fractured in recent months.

The increased tensions have seen naval ships from the US, France and the UK guide merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz, amid a perceived Iranian threat.

Tensions spiked when a British-flagged oil tanker was captured by Iran in the Gulf, in response to an Iranian ship that was detained by Royal Marines off the coast of Gibraltar. 

Iran itself has slowly edged towards ceasing its own compliance outlined in the terms of the deal.

Last week, the country began new operations at a heavy-water nuclear reactor.

Iran's moves have been condemned by Western governments as further escalating tensions in the region, while Russia and China have repeatedly blamed the US.

After meeting Javad Zarif, Mr Lavrov said Russia would demand full compliance from both the US and the EU and that it would push Iran to fulfil its obligations under the deal. 

He said the agreement should be considered as "no longer existing" if this did not happen.

Meanwhile, Iran has accused the US of conducting acts of terrorism following airstrikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. 

Cover Image: Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran (Picture: PA).