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MOSCOW, Nov. 1-- Moscow wants the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, to remain in place despite U.S. threats to abandon it, a senior Russian diplomat said Wednesday. "There is no doubt that those in the United States who wish to continue widening the spiral of anti-Iran sanctions in spite of everything, in defiance of common sense and (the) logic of the JCPOA, are rather strong," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as telling reporters. Ryabkov said it was imperative to maintain the JCPOA and avoid imposing sanctions against Iran. "We must act in accordance with the JCPOA, and this is precisely the message that Iran, Russia, China and European countries are transmitting to Washington," Ryabkov said. On Oct. 13, U.S. President Donald Trump alleged that Iran had committed "multiple violations" of the accord and threatened to abandon the JCPOA if it was not amended. Ryabkov said he saw no room for amendments to the agreement, which, according to him, reflected a "very well-measured and delicate balance of interests and compromises." The responsibility for the potential collapse of the JCPOA will rest entirely with the American side, Ryabkov said. The JCPOA was signed in 2017 by Iran, China, France, Germany, Britain, Russia and the United States. Under the deal, Iran agreed to halt its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic aid and partial lifting of international sanctions. | 
