The meeting of the intergovernmental commission of Russia and Iran will be held before the end of the year
The next meeting of the permanent Russian-Iranian Commission on trade and economic cooperation will be held before the end of the year in Russia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov said following talks with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.
"We assign an important role to the permanent Russian-Iranian commission on trade and economic cooperation. We agreed that the next meeting of this important mechanism will be held before the end of the year in Russia, the dates will be determined taking into account the specific epidemiological situation," he said.
Lavrov said that Russia and Iran would continue to implement major joint projects in the energy sector, including nuclear.
Cooperation with IAEA
Tehran continues to cooperate constructively with the IAEA within the framework of its obligations, Sergey Lavrov said after the meeting.
"Iran continues to cooperate constructively with the IAEA. Today, we confirmed that the only way to preserve the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program (JCPOA) is through consistent, full implementation of [the agreements] by all parties involved, taking into account the commitments made and in strict accordance with the conditions and the time frame that were set in 2015 and supported by Security Council resolution 2231," he said.
US sanctions
According to the Minister, Russia is not going to take into account the illegal demands of the United States against Iran.
"We heard what was announced in Washington: all those who do not follow Washington's interpretation of the current situation, which brings us all back to the need to restore sanctions against Iran, will be punished with additional US measures, economic and other," he said. - I can only speak for Russia. Russia will not in any way build its policy on the basis of taking into account these aggressive illegal demands that have no legal force."
"I hope that other countries that cooperate with Iran will take a principled position and will be guided by their national interests, and not by the need to listen to dictates from overseas," Lavrov added.
At the same time, the Minister noted that the dialogue with the United States continues. "We are trying to reason with our American colleagues and point out the absolute futility of such an attitude to international law. It is not known yet what the results will be, we see how arrogantly Washington perceives such appeals," he said.
As Lavrov stressed, Moscow and Tehran are united in the fact that the illegitimate actions of the United States cannot have international legal consequences for other countries. According to him, the parties confirmed that on October 18, the last restrictions of the UN Security Council on cooperation with Iran, concerning the sphere of military-technical cooperation, will cease to apply.
Zarif said that Russia plays a key role in preserving the nuclear deal
The Iranian Foreign Minister said that Russia plays a key role in maintaining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program.
"We discussed issues related to the JCPOA. We noted Russia's very important and key role in preserving this plan," Zarif said.
The Iranian Foreign Minister drew attention to "illegal efforts made by the United States," noting that Washington "abuses the mechanisms of the UN Security Council." Zarif recalled the US demand to return anti-Iranian sanctions, which was not met, since there is no consensus in the Security Council on this issue, and noted that "the Americans were defeated."
The Minister pointed to the important role of Russia and China in the UN Security Council. "We thank the Russian Federation for this role. Next month, Russia will chair the Security Council. We hope that we will continue to observe Russia's positive role in preserving the authority of the Security Council and countering illegal actions by the United States," Zarif added.
In early August, the United States, again accusing Iran of violating the nuclear deal, announced its intention to restore UN sanctions against Tehran under the procedure provided for by the JCPOA. On August 20, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo personally transmitted the relevant request from Washington to the UN Security Council Chairman. Under the terms of the JCPOA, any party to the agreement can launch a procedure for returning sanctions against Iran if it violates the terms of the deal, but in 2018, the United States withdrew from the Treaty.
The permanent representative of Indonesia to the UN Dian Triansyah Jani, who in August chaired the Security Council, briefed that the US request could not be satisfied. It was opposed by 13 of the 15 countries of the Security Council.
Updating the cooperation agreement
Zarif also said that Moscow and Tehran intend to discuss the possibility of updating the Agreement on the basis of relations and principles of cooperation between Russia and Iran before the next extension of the agreement.
"The agreement was signed in March 2001, and its validity is automatically extended every five years," the Iranian Foreign Minister said. - Before the next extension, we intend to consider the possibility of updating the document taking into account the current realities. Such work has already begun, and the parties will soon submit their proposals to each other for joint discussion."
Iran looks forward to working with Russia to develop a coronavirus vaccine
Tehran hopes for good cooperation with Moscow in the fight against coronavirus infection, including on the issue of creating a vaccine. This was stated on Thursday by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Zarif noted that Moscow and Tehran achieved "very good cooperation" in all areas, and expressed hope that the same dialogue will be held on the fight against coronavirus. "We will make efforts, help each other and use our experience to create a vaccine against coronavirus, as well as to advance the fight against this infection," the Iranian Foreign Minister said.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Based on materials TASS