Putin warns Washington Moscow won't act as a 'fireman' in Iranian dispute

President Vladimir Putin warned Washington that Russia was not 'a fire brigade' and could not 'rescue everything' as tension rise between the US and Iran. 

Tensions have sharply escalated between arch-rivals Washington and Tehran since US President Donald Trump withdrew last year from the Iran nuclear deal which removed sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's nuclear programme.

Putin spoke to reporters after hosting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Tuesday for the highest-level bilateral talks in nearly a year.

Russian president Vladimir Putin, pictured, said Moscow would not be able to act as 'a fireman' to settle a dispute between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear deal

Russian president Vladimir Putin, pictured, said Moscow would not be able to act as 'a fireman' to settle a dispute between the United States and Iran over Tehran's nuclear deal

Mr Putin met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, on Tuesday in Sochi, Russia

Mr Putin met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, left, on Tuesday in Sochi, Russia 

Tensions are increasing in the Gulf after the MV Al Marzoqah oil tanker under Saudi Arabian flag was attacked on May 12, 2019 outside Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates

Tensions are increasing in the Gulf after the MV Al Marzoqah oil tanker under Saudi Arabian flag was attacked on May 12, 2019 outside Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates

'We regret that the deal is falling apart,' Putin said following talks with Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen on Wednesday.

'After the signing of the agreement Iran was and still is the world's most verifiable and transparent country in this sense.'

'Iran is fulfilling all of its obligations,' said Putin, citing the International Atomic Energy Agency.

He urged Iran not to quit the 2015 agreement but added there was only so much Moscow could do.

'Russia is not a fire brigade,' Putin said.

'We cannot rescue everything that does not fully depend on us. We've played our part.'

Putin also said that after Washington's withdrawal Europe could do 'nothing' to salvage the deal.

Earlier Wednesday Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed concern that tensions over Iran escalated despite assurances from Pompeo that Washington was not seeking war.

President Donald Trump has warned he has naval assets in the region, such as the USS Abraham Lincoln, pictured here being replenished at sea by the support ship USNS Arctic

President Donald Trump has warned he has naval assets in the region, such as the USS Abraham Lincoln, pictured here being replenished at sea by the support ship USNS Arctic

'So far we notice the continued escalation of tensions around this subject,' Peskov said.

'We are saddened to see the decisions taken by the Iranian side,' Peskov added, while arguing that Washington has been provoking Iran.

In Sochi, Pompeo said his country did not want war with Iran, despite a spike in tensions that has seen the Pentagon dispatch nuclear-capable bombers to the region.

Peskov sought to play down those statements.

'There were no assurances from Pompeo,' Putin's spokesman said.

'And one can hardly talk about some sort of assurances.'

Washington last year pulled out of a nuclear deal backed by Europe, Russia and China, which curbed Iran's nuclear ambitions in return for sanctions relief.

Since then it has slapped sweeping sanctions on Iran.

On Sunday, mysterious attacks by unknown assailants against four ships in the region, including two from Saudi Arabia, pushed talk of war up another notch.

The Andrea Victory, pictured, was holed before the waterline as a result of the attack

The Andrea Victory, pictured, was holed before the waterline as a result of the attack

Washington has accused Iran of planning 'imminent' attacks in the region and on Wednesday, the US ordered all non-emergency staff to leave its embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and consulate in Arbil. 

The US on Wednesday ordered all non-emergency staff to leave its embassy in Baghdad and consulate in Arbil, ramping up alarm over an alleged Iran threat even as allies appeared less than convinced.

A senior Democratic senator demanded President Donald Trump's administration brief Congress on the Iran threat, warning that the US

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