Russia does not want Iran to quit the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and counts on it remaining a party to the agreement, the Kremlin said on Tuesday.
This follows Iranian Parliament Vice Speaker Ali Nikzad stating that Tehran is considering withdrawing from the NPT, including that the parliament will review a “triple-urgency” motion to do so.
Nikzad reportedly stated that Tehran, which became a party to the treaty in March 1970, has no trust in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), or IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, because he conducts “merely superficial inspections and submits negative reports against Iran.”
Russia and Iran have close ties under a strategic cooperation treaty.
"Moscow views the NPT as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and hopes that Tehran remains a responsible party to the treaty," Peskov said, according to Russia's official TASS news agency.
Iran 'has no plans to develop nuclear weapons,' Russia's Peskov says
"Our [Iranian] friends and partners constantly affirm at various levels that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons and has no plans to do so," Peskov added.
"On the contrary, Iran is committed to its obligations under the non-proliferation regime. At the same time, it remains committed to developing such an important economic sector as peaceful nuclear energy within the country," Peskov stated.