Lavrov assessed the situation around the Iran nuclear deal

04 March 2021

 

Steps by Washington could unblock the situation around the Iranian nuclear deal, which would send a signal to Tehran demonstrating the seriousness of the US intentions to return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program (JCPOA),  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.


"The window of opportunity for saving the nuclear deal is not yet closed. A prerequisite is full and consistent implementation of the 2015 comprehensive agreements by all countries that drafted and concluded them. "We are working closely with all parties to the JCPOA to achieve this goal," Lavrov said in an interview with Russkaya mysl (Russian thought) magazine.


According to him, Russia is also in constant contact with European partners to work out possible solutions, but much depends on the United States.


"The position of Joe Biden's administration on the 'nuclear deal' is a fundamental point. In our opinion, unblocking the situation around Iran and its nuclear program would be facilitated by such steps by Washington that would send a signal to Tehran demonstrating the seriousness of the US intentions to return to the JCPOA," the minister stressed.


Moscow expects that the situation around the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran's nuclear program (JCPOA) will soon be changed for the better and is ready to assist in reaching relevant agreements, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.


"We hope that the situation will turn for the better in the near future and return the process of implementing the JCPOA to the originally agreed framework," the minister said.


He pointed out that Tehran had repeatedly expressed its readiness to completely "unfreeze" the implementation of all the suspended JCPOA provisions as soon as the lost balance of interests is restored.


"For our part, we are ready to contribute in every way possible to reaching agreements on this issue," Lavrov added.


The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action concluded in 2015 by the "six" (Britain, Germany, China, Russia, the United States, France) and Iran, which envisaged the lifting of sanctions in exchange for limiting Iran's nuclear program as a guarantee that Tehran would not obtain nuclear weapons, did not last even three years: in May 2018, US President Donald Trump decided to unilaterally withdraw from it and reinstate harsh sanctions against Tehran. Iran announced a gradual withdrawal from its obligations under the deal.

 

 

GSV "Russia - Islamic World"

Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry

Based on materials from RIA Novosti