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Iran FM says will discuss nuclear deal revival during Moscow visit

Wednesday, 29 March 2023 5:47 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 29 March 2023 6:11 AM ]

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says he will discuss with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, the return of nuclear deal signatories to their contractual obligations under the US-abandoned agreement.

“The window of dialogue is still open and one of the topics of the conversation with Mr. Lavrov is the JCPOA and the return of parties to their commitments,” Amir-Abdollahian told reporters upon arriving in Moscow on Tuesday, using an acronym for the nuclear agreement, or the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

The JCPOA was signed in 2015 between Tehran and the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China.

However, Washington abandoned the accord in May 2018 and imposed cruel sanctions on Iran, leaving the future of the deal in limbo.

Negotiations between the parties to the JCPOA kicked off in Vienna in April 2021, with the intention of bringing the US back into the agreement and putting an end to its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran.

The discussions, however, have been at a standstill since August 2022 due to Washington’s insistence on not lifting all of the anti-Iran sanctions and offering the necessary guarantees that it will not withdraw from or violate the accord again.

“Russia played an important role in the new round of the Vienna talks between Iran and the 4+1 group of countries, which lasted for months,” said Amir-Abdollahian.

“Our Russian colleagues still keep up efforts toward the return of all sides to their commitments. Naturally, the JCPOA will be one of the subjects to be discussed,” he said.

Iran, Russia FMs to discuss key mutual, regional issues in Moscow

The Iranian and Russian foreign ministers are set to hold talks about leading mutual and regional issues.

Amir-Abdollahian also noted that the US policy of sanctions is a failed policy, adding, “The Islamic Republic believes that sanctions are a tool for economic terrorism against nations. It focused on … using the opportunity provided by sanctions for the country’s progress. We believe that today’s sanctions policy is ineffective, incorrect and a terrorist war against nations.”

The Iranian foreign minister also voiced his satisfaction with developing relations between Tehran and Moscow in economic, commercial, political, cultural and tourism, security and defense sectors.

Asked about US concerns over the Iran-Russia defense ties, he reiterated that such cooperation will not be against any third party.

He also said that the volume of the Iran-Russia trade exchange has increased by more than 3.5 times in the last year and a half.

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