Rouhani and Putin to discuss US exit from nuclear deal

The Iranian president met with his Russian counterpart on Saturday, commenting on the need to strategize in the wake of the US’ exit from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.

By: AP

In a meeting in China, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani raised the situation following the U.S. withdrawal from the Iranian deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Speaking at the start of his Saturday’s meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Qingdao, China, Rouhani hailed close ties between Russia and Iran. Iran has an observer status in the SCO, and Putin said that Moscow would support the full-fledged Iranian membership.

Rouhani said that the U.S. exit from the nuclear agreement with Iran warrants an “important and serious discussion between our two countries.”

Rouhani also hailed Russia-Iran cooperation in Syria, saying “our role in the region is quite significant.” Russia and Iran have staunchly backed Syrian President Bashar Assad, helping turn the tide of war in his favor.

The comments occurred on the heels of a visit to Israel last Wednesday by a group of high-level Russian officials, including at least one senior intelligence officer. This meeting focused on Iran’s presence in Syria, in addition to Islamic Republic’s the terror threat in the Middle East in general.

Isralei Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman led the meetings, presenting the Jewish state’s demand that Iran and its military proxies move at least 60-70 kilometers away from the border area.