May attacks Russia for ‘desperate fabrication’ over Salisbury spy poisoning

Theresa May attacked Russia for its “desperate fabrication” over the Salisbury spy poisoning as she addressed world leaders in New York.

Britain has set out detailed evidence about the prime suspects in the nerve agent attack on former spy Sergei Skripal and daughter Yulia while Russia has only sought to “obfuscate”, the Prime Minister said.

She told the United Nations Security Council: “We have taken appropriate action, with our allies, and we will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure our collective security.

“Russia has only sought to obfuscate through desperate fabrication.”

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov were identified by the UK as members of the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence service, but made widely mocked claims that they only made the trip in early March to visit the “wonderful town” of Salisbury and its famous cathedral.

Mrs May called on Russia to rejoin the international consensus against the use of chemical weapons and said there should be no doubt of the international community’s determination to take action if it did not.

She said: “We cannot let the framework be undermined today by those who reject the values and disregard the rules that have kept us safe.

“It will take collective engagement to reinforce it in the face of today’s challenges. And in this, as has always been the case, the UK will play a leading role.”

Mrs May took a swipe at Donald Trump’s decision to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal.

The PM praised the US president, who was chairing the security council, for the “leadership” he had shown over North Korea by meeting dictator Kim Jong Un for talks over Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.

But she said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) had taken collective leadership.

She added: “For many years, the scale and nature of Iran’s nuclear programme raised serious international concerns. The JCPOA was an important step forward in addressing these.

“It remains the best means of preventing Iran developing a nuclear weapon, and we are committed to preserving the JCPOA as long as Iran continues to abide by its obligations in full.

“Iran must ensure they implement their obligations fully. And to monitor Iran’s compliance, we strongly support the IAEA using inspections and other monitoring provisions of the JCPOA to their full.”