Russia could convene meeting to address Iran nuclear programme issues – Russian lawmaker
Russia could convene a meeting with the United States, China, France, the UK and Germany to address concerns with the agreement curbing the Iranian nuclear programme, Russian senator Igor Morozov said. Morozov, member of the Federation Council’s foreign affairs committee, told Sputnik on Tuesday:“Russia may demand the ‘six’- thanks to whose efforts this agreement was […]
Morozov, member of the Federation Council’s foreign affairs committee, told Sputnik on Tuesday:“Russia may demand the ‘six’- thanks to whose efforts this agreement was reached – to convene, and to demand the U.S. not to disrupt efforts to stabilise the situation.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in an address to lawmakers earlier in the day that Tehran could leave the nuclear deal “in hours” if the U.S. continues expanding sanctions.
According to Morozov, the representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency should also be invited to the meeting in order to reaffirm that Iran strictly abides by the agreement.
The lawmaker has also added that the European Union is likely to support the position of Russia.
“The European investment has begun to flow into Iran, Europe is not interested in destabilisation of the situation in the region,” Morozov pointed out.
Morozov added that the reaction of Iran to the expansion of US sanctions against Tehran was reasonable and comprehensible.
“Having approved the bill on sanctions, the U.S. Congress has equalized Russia and Iran with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea that openly pursues nuclear weapons capabilities.
Tehran understands that the U.S. policy is aggressive in its nature,” Morozov stated.
The lawmaker emphasided that the Iran nuclear deal was reached through enormous political and diplomatic efforts.
“And now the U.S. with the stroke of a pen negates all the actions taken by the world community that were aimed at non-proliferation of nuclear weapons,” Morozov indicated.
Agreed in July 2015 by Iran, five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as Iran nuclear deal, lifted nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran.
The deal was reached in exchange for the assurance that Tehran will not operate its nuclear programme outside of the promotion of peaceful purposes.
According to the deal, all sides agreed to refrain from policies intended to affect Iran’s trade and economic relations.
On July 29, the U.S. Senate approved a bill on new non-nuclear sanctions against Iran.
On July 30, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the U.S. bill violated the provisions of the agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme by scaring individuals away from doing business with the country.
On Sunday, the Iranian parliament voted for allocating 520 million dollars on the development of its own missile programme in response to the sanctions. (Sputnik/NAN)