Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said he would hold consultations with US special envoy on Iran Robert Malley in Moscow on September 8 and 9.
"We have consultations scheduled. They will take place today and tomorrow [September 8 and 9] in the morning. We've been planning them long enough to discuss the whole situation and to look ahead. There are a lot of problems and, frankly, this is one of those moments when it's extremely important not to make a mistake," he told TASS on Wednesday.
As the US State department earlier reported, Malley will travel to Moscow and Paris on September 7-10 to hold consultations on issues related to Washington and Tehran's return to compliance with the JCPOA on Iran's nuclear program.
Iran's nuclear build-up
Moscow is concerned about the rapid progress in Iran's capacity building on many aspects of its nuclear program, he said.
"We are, of course, concerned about the rapid progress that has been seen in Iran's capacity building in many aspects of its nuclear program," Ryabkov said.
The diplomat explained that the concern is not in terms of violation of Iran's basic obligations under the NPT or the comprehensive safeguards agreement with the IAEA, because these documents do not impose any restrictions on Iran in this area. "And the transparency of the relevant Iranian efforts is ensured," Ryabkov continued. - "But from the angle of restoration of the JCPOA the situation becomes more complicated because Tehran is moving further and further away from the original parameters of this agreement".
"But this is also reversible if we go back to the negotiations and continue to form compromise solutions to the remaining problems, continuing negotiations from the point where they stopped when they were interrupted," the deputy minister pointed out.
Negotiations between Iran and the international "five" (Russia, Britain, China, France and Germany) on the problem of restoring the Iranian nuclear agreement in its original form have been held in Vienna since April. The parties are discussing the lifting of US sanctions against Iran, the fulfillment of Iran's nuclear obligations, and the return of the US to the JCPOA. Representatives of the states participating in the agreement are also holding separate consultations with the US delegation without Iranian participation. Initially, the delegations expected to conclude their work in late May, then in early June.
Reinstating the JCPOA
Ryabkov said Moscow is concerned about signals coming from Western capitals about the need to exert political pressure on Tehran to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a flawed logic.
"I am concerned about the signals coming not only from Washington, but also from other capitals of Western countries participating in the negotiation process in Vienna to restore the JCPOA, that some kind of political "pressure measures" on Tehran are now needed. This is faulty logic. On the contrary, we have to show restraint and find the way for the resumption of negotiations," the deputy minister noted.
He pointed out that it is necessary to respect the internal processes of state restructuring as a result of the transit of power in Iran and to wait until a new negotiating team is formed to continue the suspended work on the restoration of the JCPOA in Vienna. "Yes, the pause is dragging on, it's not good. Yes, the Iranians need more time to form their negotiating team, but that's okay too. After all, they have what in Western circles is called the transit of power, this should be respected," Ryabkov pointed out.
"If we now start looking for some formulations that will take the hypothetical form of an IAEA Board of Governors resolution condemning Iran, I think we can simply undermine the chances for a quick resumption of negotiations. This is counterproductive and is probably not in the interests of the Western countries themselves," the deputy foreign minister concluded.
Retreat from the negotiating positions
achieved at the talks on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in Vienna is unacceptable, Moscow will continue sending signals to all parties about the counterproductive revision of already agreed points, Ryabkov said.
"It is unacceptable to roll back these negotiating positions. Revision of what has already been agreed in Vienna would be counterproductive, and we will continue sending the appropriate signals to both the Iranian side and colleagues from the Western group," the deputy minister said.
He noted that Moscow closely cooperates with the parties in the format of all participants in the negotiation process, teleconferences are held and contacts are maintained through embassies. "We have a deep partnership with the People's Republic of China. China's positions on the whole Iranian case are very similar to ours. And we are satisfied with the way our countries are pursuing a comprehensive solution to the problem of restoring the JCPOA. We will draw our Western colleagues closer to this, as far as possible. Accordingly, consultations with the US special envoy fit into this context," Ryabkov concluded.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Federation Council
Based on materials from TASS