The shortest way to restore the Iranian nuclear deal is a simultaneous return of the United States and Iran to their obligations, Russia will help with this, said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova in connection with the agreements between the IAEA and Iran on the continuation of cooperation.
"The shortest way to reanimate the nuclear deal is through a counter-synchronized return of Washington and Tehran to their obligations under the JCPOA and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, without add-ons or exceptions. Russia intends to contribute to this in every possible way," Zakharova said in a commentary published on the website of the Russian foreign ministry.
Moscow urges all partners in the Iran nuclear deal, including Iran and the US, to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, Zakharova said.
"We call on all our partners in the JCPOA, including Iran, as well as US representatives, to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible and agree on the basis of the understandings and elements that were formulated between April and June," the Russian foreign ministry said.
The IAEA director-general went to Tehran on Saturday, where he met with Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran's atomic energy organization, on Sunday. According to a joint statement, at the meeting, the two sides reaffirmed the spirit of cooperation and mutual trust and the focus on its continuation, stressing the need to resolve the "relevant issues in a constructive atmosphere and in an exclusively technical manner." In addition, Iran allowed IAEA inspectors to use surveillance cameras from Iranian nuclear facilities again.
In 2015, the UK, Germany, China, Russia, the US, France, and Iran signed the JCPOA. The deal involved lifting sanctions in exchange for limiting Iran's nuclear program to guarantee its peaceful nature. In May 2018, then-US President Donald Trump decided to unilaterally withdraw from the agreement and reinstate harsh sanctions against Tehran. In response, Iran announced a phased reduction of its JCPOA commitments, abandoning restrictions on nuclear research, centrifuges, and uranium enrichment levels.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from RIA Novosti