Moscow, Jul 15 (IANS): The deal on the Iranian nuclear programme was a step to protect world stability, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.

"Despite the attempts to justify forceful scenarios, the negotiators made a firm choice in favour of stability and cooperation, which will be assigned to a UN Security Council resolution," the Kremlin press service cited Putin as saying.

A comprehensive agreement was clinched on Tuesday between Iran and the P5 1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany -- after more than two weeks of bargaining in Vienna.

Noting that the relevant sides have been negotiating the agreement for many years, Putin said the world today "breathes a sign of relief".

He said Moscow welcomes the deal and is satisfied that the decision was based on the solid foundation of international laws, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Putin thanked all participants who have consistently supported the process of finding a reliable diplomatic and political solution to the nuclear problem.

Russia will do everything possible for the full implementation of the agreement to safeguard regional and international non-proliferation regimes and stability, he said.

The president said the Vienna deal injects new impetus into Russia-Iran relations, including their cooperation in the area of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, while external restrictive factors, in particular international sanctions against Iran, will be gradually removed.