Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeatedly supported Moscow in 2015 for the revival of the landmark contract originally signed by Iran and six other world powers.
“We discussed the situation in the Persian Gulf and the joint comprehensive plan of action,” Lavrov said in an interview on Wednesday with American bloggers reported by the Tass Communications Agency, responding to questions about whether Iran’s issues are part of ongoing negotiations between Russia and the United States.
Russia discussed the situation regarding its contract with Iran, and at the same time maintained communications with Europeans about the issue, highlighting the recovery of actual deals “threw by Americans during the first Trump government.”
The top diplomat explained that the Russians would “possibly support resuming the format in which they developed the original deal approved by the Security Council and Iran.”
“We see what it will happen,” he added, referring to consultations with American and European officials.
The Russian Foreign Minister also spoke of Western media reports suggesting that US President Donald Trump had called for a new nuclear deal in a letter sent to Tehran.
“The US is requiring that it links a new nuclear deal with Iran to not support (resistance) groups in the Middle East, but this option will not work. I’m worried that Americans will be willing to submit political terms for this new deal,” he said.
Lavrov also rejected pressure on Iran for growing influence in West Asia, saying, “I believe that a situation in which all countries except Iran have the right to influence other countries in the region is an impossible scenario.”
The UN Security Council and five permanent members of Germany, known as the P5+1 group, signed a contract with Iran in 2015 to address issues regarding the nuclear program. However, Trump unilaterally withdraws his country from the 2018 agreement and reimposes sanctions against Tehran, which were lifted under the agreement.
Following the US withdrawal, European signatories – Britain, France and Germany, have urged Tehran to stick to its obligations and committed to compensate for any economic harm that has arisen. Iran waited a year before rewinding its nuclear commitment after the Europeans failed to fulfill their promise.
rhm/