Major discrepancies in the assessment of the Iranian nuclear program remain between Iran and the US, but Russia considers the prospect of resolving the disputed issues real, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna, told reporters on Wednesday.
"We proceed from the fact that <...> it is necessary that both Iran and the US fully return to the nuclear deal, to the observance of its provisions. The Americans must first lift the sanctions, and Iran must bring its nuclear program in line with the parameters laid down in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action," Ulyanov said. - "This is what is being worked on now in Vienna as part of the renewed negotiations on the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action".
"The matter is extremely difficult <...>. You can see that there are very big differences between Iran and the United States, this was during the previous rounds and now," he said. - "We strongly believe that there is a chance for the diplomacy and negotiations to settle the differences".
According to the Permanent Representative, diplomacy is the most reliable tool in these circumstances. "The threats the US sometimes resorts to are not helpful. We need to negotiate," Ulyanov said.
None of the negotiators in Vienna has officially initiated an interim agreement on Iran, Ulyanov said.
He also said that Russia considers an interim agreement on the Iran nuclear deal possible. "No one has made such proposals officially yet. There have been some leaks to the American media, and they were rather vague. No one has officially expressed any ideas in this regard," Ulyanov said when asked by TASS about the possibility of some kind of interim agreement at the talks in Vienna. - "In principle, this is possible, if Iran and the United States are willing to do so, as a partial solution that does not substitute for the need to achieve the main goal of the negotiations - the full restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action."
"As a partial solution, it probably could be, but it requires the appropriate political will," the diplomat said.
Uranium enrichment at the Fordow nuclear facility
Ulyanov said the Russian Federation is concerned about uranium enrichment at the Fordow nuclear facility. "I was sent the [International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)] report. As I understand it, new cascades have been installed and have started working," Ulyanov noted. - "All this was expected."
"There is a [Iranian] law on strategic measures to counter sanctions passed by the Majlis of Iran. The law provides for the development of a nuclear program, and Iran is moving step by step in this direction. We are not enthusiastic about it," he said when asked by TASS. - "We are worried because Iran goes very far and is the first non-nuclear state in history which enriches uranium to 60%".
The diplomat noted that this is not prohibited under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but was prohibited under the JCPOA. "Iran has already departed from the JCPOA in many provisions. But it is important to understand that this did not happen due to Tehran's ill will, but as a reaction to the irresponsible policy of maximum pressure from the United States with extraterritorial sanctions and other forms of pressure on Tehran," the Russian permanent representative said.
Reuters reported, citing information from the IAEA, that the agency confirmed that the cascade of 166 IR-6 centrifuges was loaded with uranium hexafluoride enriched to 5% to enrich uranium to 20% in Fordow.
Iran's uranium enrichment level allowed under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA) must not exceed 3.67%. In 2020, Iran enriched uranium to 4.5%. Iran began enriching uranium to 60% in response to an April 11 sabotage at a nuclear facility in the city of Natanz, which, according to Tehran, was carried out by Israel. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that the enrichment is for peaceful purposes and is supervised by the IAEA.
The seventh round of talks on restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program began November 29 in Vienna after they were suspended in June because of the Iranian elections. Over the course of six rounds between April and June 2021, negotiators from the JCPOA countries and the United States were able to determine which US sanctions on Iran should be lifted and compile a list of steps that Tehran must take to return to its nuclear commitments.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: AP / TASS
Based on materials from TASS