Lavrov: Russia and Iran are interested in full restoration of JCPOA

26 January 2021

 

Moscow and Tehran are interested in the full restoration of the nuclear deal between Iran and other parties to the JCPOA, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday.


"One of the most pressing topics today is the task of restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to resolve the Iranian nuclear program. Both we and Iran are genuinely interested in a return to full implementation by all parties who have signed the JCPOA of their obligations," Lavrov said as he opened talks with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif.


The Russian Minister added that given the role of the two countries in the region, Moscow and Tehran are interested in deepening dialogue on issues such as security in the Persian Gulf, the problem of Afghanistan's settlement, and the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh after the cessation of hostilities there.


In 2015, the "six" (Britain, Germany, China, Russia, the United States, and France) and Iran announced a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The agreement called for the removal of sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran's nuclear program. The deal in its original form did not last even three years: in May 2018, the US announced its unilateral withdrawal from it and the reinstatement of tough sanctions against Tehran.


Iran in 2019 announced a phased reduction of its commitments under the agreement, abandoning restrictions on nuclear research, centrifuges, and uranium enrichment levels.

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry

Based on materials from RIA Novosti