Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov did not rule out the possibility of discussing Iran's program to develop ballistic missiles. According to him, this is possible, but with the political will of Tehran and after the restoration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program (JCPOA).
"If there is political will, talking about this (about Iran's ballistic program) is possible, but it is important to be consistent about everything. <...> We cannot impose anything on anyone. We call the Americans and Europeans to be realistic: first to agree on restoring the Iran nuclear deal, then to understand when and how to discuss these or other issues," he said in an interview with RT Arabic.
According to the deputy minister, the United States, which withdrew from the JCPOA, "must take the first step towards Iran, to return to the deal". In addition, he pointed to the importance of lifting Tehran's arms embargo.
Ryabkov also noted that the pause in the negotiations in Vienna on the JCPOA "is connected, among other things, with the transition from one administration to another in Iran".
On September 13, Saeed Khatibzadeh, spokesman for the Iranian foreign ministry, said that the Iranian authorities would soon resume negotiations on the nuclear deal in the Austrian capital.
Six rounds of consultations were held in Vienna from April to June 2021 with the participation of all the signatory countries of the JCPOA (Britain, Germany, Iran, China, Russia and France), as well as the United States on the problem of restoring the Iranian nuclear agreement in its original form. At the end of June, the sides took a break, which was delayed due to the presidential elections in the Islamic republic and the formation of a new government there.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation / TASS
Based on materials from TASS