US maximum pressure campaign against Iran totally failed: Russian diplomat

A senior Russian diplomat says the so-called ‘maximum pressure’ policy pursued by the United States against Iran has failed to fulfill Washington's demand to target the country's economy and has only led to humanitarian sufferings. 

“US proudly (and justifiably) states that maximum pressure campaign had a devastating effect on Iranian economy. But this is one side of the coin,” Mikhail Ulyanov, the Russian ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, said in a post on his Twitter account on Saturday.

He added that the US policy has only resulted in “humanitarian sufferings, weakened non-proliferation regime" and brought about a "total failure of the declared goals (Pompeo’s 12 demands).”

US proudly (and justifiably) states that maximum pressure campaign had a devastating effect on Iranian economy. But this is one side of the coin. The other side- humanitarian sufferings, weakened non-proliferation regime and total failure of the declared goals(Pompeo’s 12 demands)

— Mikhail Ulyanov (@Amb_Ulyanov) November 20, 2020

US President Donald Trump, a hawkish critic of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), unilaterally withdrew Washington from the agreement in May 2018, and unleashed the “toughest ever” sanctions against the Islamic Republic in defiance of global criticism.

The US unleashed the so-called maximum pressure campaign and targeted the Iranian nation with draconian restrictive measures in order to bring it to its knees, but Iran's economy keeps humming and is getting back on its feet.

Following its much-criticized exit, Washington has been attempting to prevent the remaining signatories -- the UK, France China and Russia plus Germany -- from abiding by their commitments and thus kill the historic agreement, which is widely viewed as a fruit of international diplomacy.

Trump, with two months left in office, is moving quickly to impose more sanctions against Iran. He even asked his advisers last week for options to launch a military strike against Iran but his aides dissuaded him.

Iran will respond to any sort of adventurism by means of its legitimate military might: Diplomat

‘Iran has proven to be capable of using its legitimate military might to prevent or respond to any type of adventurism from aggressors.’

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani said earlier this month that the time for the United States’ policy of exerting ‘maximum pressure’ on other countries, including the Islamic Republic, is over and this policy has failed to produce any results.

Iran's Rouhani: Time for US' ‘maximum pressure’ policy over

Iran’s President Rouhani says the time for the United States’ policy of exerting ‘maximum pressure’ on other countries is over.

Alluding to Trump’s policy of mounting maximum pressure on Iran to force the country to submit to Washington’s demands, Rouhani said, “All signs and indications in the current world, from America to Europe, show that the world has understood that the [policy of exerting] maximum pressure is not effective and its time is over.”

Read more: 

• Leader: Iran to turn ‘maximum pressure’ into US ‘maximum disgrace’

• US maximum pressure failed, proud Iranians stand tall: Foreign Ministry spokesman

• Incoming US administration will need to change Iran approach: Rouhani

In another tweet, the Russian diplomat pointed to the “relatively quiet” November session of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s Board of Governor about the IAEA’s verification activities in Iran.

He said concerns were expressed at the meeting but added that "nobody tried to aggravate the situation. Looks like states want to see how events will develop in 2021,” referring to the upcoming inauguration of the next US administration in January, when President-elect Joe Biden will take office.

The discussion of verification in #Iran at November session of #IAEA BoG was relatively quiet. Many expressed concerns about deviations of Tehran from ^#JCPOA requirements, but nobody tried to aggravate the situation. Looks like states want to see how events will develop in 2021.

— Mikhail Ulyanov (@Amb_Ulyanov) November 21, 2020

Iran urges E3 to end ‘political blame game,’ commit to JCPOA obligations

‘The Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear activities are legal and in accordance with international regulations.’

The remarks come as Biden has said he will return to the multi-party 2015 deal, which was inked when he was vice president, as long as Iran also returns to strict compliance.

Iran says it is ready to resume its commitments under the nuclear accord if the US stops violations of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the deal and lifts its sanctions.

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