Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday criticised the US withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal in a speech at a regional summit in China.
Speaking during the meeting of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation in Qingdao, Mr Putin emphasised that the organisation was concerned about the US move. The bloc includes China, Russia along with four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations, as well as India and Pakistan.
Mr Putin said that Washington's decision to exit the agreement could "destabilise the situation" in the region. He said that Moscow would continue to honour its obligations under the Iranian nuclear deal.
Read more: Iran nuclear deal countries meet in Tehran
Last month, President Donald Trump pulled out of former president Barack Obama's landmark 2015 nuclear accord with Iran despite the objections of European allies and other nations.
Addressing the summit, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, whose country has an observer status in the group, said that Iran would expect other participants in the nuclear deal to provide guarantees that they would honour the agreement.
Founded in 2001, the Beijing-based SCO has largely served as a vehicle for resolving border issues, fighting terrorism and - more implicitly - to counter American influence in Central Asia following its invasion of Afghanistan.
