Ryabkov held a phone conversation with Iran’s Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali, assuring him that Russian aid to Iran would continue to combat coronavirus.

He added that Moscow has taken steps to lift US sanctions on Iran, saying that it will seek to expand its cooperation with Iran in a variety of ways, including participation in INSTEX.

Appreciating Russia’s assistance to Iran in the fight against coronavirus, Jalali emphasized the need for continued bilateral and global assistance.

Jalali also emphasized the cooperation of all countries in the fight against the virus.

He further praised Russia’s rational stance on US unilateral and illegal sanctions against Iran.

Russia has already sent 50,000 coronavirus test kits to Iran.

Possible activation of the JCPOA trigger mechanism may ruin the deal, said Ryabkov, Interfax reported on Wednesday.

He described E3’s decision to launch the JCPOA dispute resolution mechanism as politically erroneous, adding that the measure seriously decreases the chance of preserving JCPOA.

The remarks come as France, Britain, and Germany on Tuesday announced their decision to trigger the dispute mechanism in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Reacting to the development, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Abbas Mousavi, said “In fact, the European parties are announcing the beginning of process of settlement of disputes and activation of Article 36 of the JCPOA while the article has been referred to by the Islamic Republic of Iran long ago, and no new situation will be created.”

“However, should the Europeans –who have claimed in the statement that they have taken such measure with goodwill and with the purpose of saving the JCPOA- keep to the path of submissiveness to the US or intend to abuse the process of settlement of disputes in the JCPOA Joint Commission instead of trying to honor their commitments and making Iran benefit from the effects of removal of the sanctions in accordance with the Annex II of the JCPOA, they will have to prepare themselves to accept its consequences as well, about which they have been already reminded via appropriate channels,” the spokesman added.