Russian MFA notes US determination to return to compliance with Iran nuclear deal

11 August 2022

 


Moscow notes the focus of all countries participating in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program, as well as the US, on an early return to the implementation of this agreement, Russian Foreign Ministry Deputy Director of the Information and Press Department Ivan Nechayev said a briefing on Thursday.


"The Russian side keeps taking the most active part in multilateral efforts to restore full implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Our position in this regard is absolutely consistent: restarting these crucial agreements is the only sensible and effective way. It will restore the balance and prevent escalation of tensions around the Iranian nuclear program with inevitable negative consequences for the entire Middle East region and its security," he said.


"The JCPOA was backed by UNSC Resolution 2231, which is still in force, the legal obligations provided therein are inviolable, and any deviation or so-called Plan B, which some like to speculate about, contradict the consensus decisions of the Security Council. We note the determination of all the countries-parties to the JCPOA, as well as the United States, to finalize set of decisions of the joint commission designed to return the implementation of the JCPOA to the originally agreed framework  as soon as possible, " the diplomat added.


Vienna format and unacceptability of forceful methods


Nechayev noted that since April of this year, there have been talks in the so-called Vienna format for this purpose. "One of the key roles in them is assigned to representatives of the United States. In confirmation of our thesis that there is no reasonable alternative to the return of all the parties involved, especially the Americans, to their obligations, just the other day in Vienna another round of indirect dialogue took place between the US and Iranian delegations, with the mediation of the European foreign service. The result was an updated version of the joint commission's decision package, proactively drafted by the EEU coordinator. It reflects progress on a number of issues that previously could not be closed," he added. - "The document is being carefully studied in the capitals."


The diplomat draws attention to the fact that there are statements from the West saying that the negotiating process is over and everything that deserves to be discussed is already written in the text. "The official representative of the European External Action Service Peter Stano even let himself imagine that the participants of the Vienna talks had to make a radical choice: either to accept the draft agreements or to sign the failure of the negotiations," the diplomat pointed out.


Nechayev noted that the joint JCPOA commission did not take any decisions in this regard and did not authorize the coordinator or his representatives to pass verdicts. "So the European foreign service has clearly jumped to conclusions. Well, this has happened before," he added.


The diplomat stressed that the Russian side has repeatedly stated that the language of ultimatums won't work in such a responsible and delicate matter as the restoration of the JCPOA.


"We have repeatedly heard from our European colleagues during negotiations that brute political pressure is a legitimate method that they consider themselves entitled to use with regard to Iran. This is not our method. We should not forget that the JCPOA was the result of agreements built on a carefully calibrated balance of interests. Such issues cannot be resolved by pushing and using force," he said.


There are no insoluble contradictions


Nechayev emphasized, however, that a positive result in the talks on the restoration of the JCPOA is quite possible; there are no unsolvable issues between the parties. "Work on the restoration package project will end when the interests of all parties involved are duly taken into account in it. We trust that this is understood in Washington, Brussels, and other European capitals. A positive result of the negotiations is, in our opinion, quite achievable. There are no insoluble contradictions between the key players. The rapprochement, as it has been proven many times, entirely depends on the political will of the parties involved," he said.


The diplomat added that Russia hopes that the United States will finally stop getting hung up on its own exclusivity and ensure strict compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2231, "creating conditions for a counter-freezing by Iran of its voluntary obligations that were suspended in response to the flagrant violation by Washington."

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Photo: Pavel Karásek/Pixabay

Based on materials from TASS