Russia has committed to continue standing by its ally Iran amid growing international tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov hosted Iranian FM Javad Zarif in Moscow on Tuesday, where the former affirmed that the Kremlin would do whatever it could to preserve the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed between Iran and the P5+1 along with the European Union.
Under the deal, Iran had committed to limit its nuclear activities in lieu of a lift in economic sanctions and other assistance. But it abandoned those commitments when US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Islamic Republic, choking its main source of income–oil exports. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), while Iran currently has a stockpile of enriched uranium that is nearly eight times the agreed-upon limit, the enrichment level is far below the requirements for a nuclear weapon. The body on Monday requested Tehran for access to some sites where they suspect past nuclear activity to have occurred.
Despite the disagreements between the US and Iran, the two struck a prisoner release deal, where on 4 June Tehran released an American Navy veteran who was under state detention since 2018. The US also permitted an Iranian-American doctor to visit his home country. A senior US diplomat on Tuesday said that the Trump administration wishes to have a face-to-face meeting with Iranian leaders to discuss the terms of prisoner releases. At the same time, they also want the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to “impose an indefinite arms embargo” on Tehran.
“Washington has no right to punish Iran,” said Lavrov to reporters after his meeting with Zarif, emphasizing that Russia will do “everything” in its power to ensure that nobody “can destroy” the agreements. He also added that Moscow would stand firmly against attempts by international actors to manipulate the UNSC in promoting an anti-Iran agenda.
Image Source: Al-Monitor
Russia Commits Support to Iran as US Chases Indefinite UNSC Arms Embargo
June 17, 2020
