Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that Moscow supports the United States and its Western allies in pursuing a nuclear deal with Iran and warned against the threat of an “irreversible” arms race.
“The JCPOA has no reasonable alternative,” he said in an interview with state-run RIA media. “We consider it irresponsible to speculate about the notorious ‘Plan B’ and other unacceptable options.”
Lavrov claimed that failure to secure a deal would lead “to an escalation, an arms race, an open conflict with irreversible consequences.”
Although Russia played a pivotal role in trying to revive a version of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, Moscow’s relationship with Tehran has grown stronger since it invaded Ukraine, making it a an international “outcast”. among western nations.
ISRAEL FEARS BIDEN STILL WANTS A NUCLEAR DEAL WITH IRAN, BUT US CLAIMS DEAL ‘NOT ON THE AGENDA’
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (right) and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian shake hands during a joint press conference as part of their meeting in Moscow, August 31. of 2022.
(Photo by MAXIM SHEMETOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Russia first threatened to block any progress in nuclear talks with Iran after the United States and Europe imposed harsh international sanctions on it following its deadly invasion.
But in mid-March, Moscow demanded guarantees from Washington that its trade with Iran would not be affected by sanctions so that a nuclear deal could be reached.
The White House said the months-long negotiations with Iran would not act as an “escape hatch” for Russia, though Lavrov said he received written assurances from the United States that it would meet his demands.
“Of course, we would not sanction Russian involvement in nuclear projects that are part of the resumption of full implementation of the JCPOA. We cannot and will not, and we have provided no guarantees beyond that to Russia,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said. he said.
IRAN: ‘BIDEN CANNOT IGNORE PROTESTS AND EXECUTIONS’ AS REGIME OBSERVES NUCLEAR WEAPONS AMID ATOMIC DEAL PAUSE
FILE – In this Jan. 13, 2015 file photo released by the Iranian President’s Office, President Hassan Rouhani visits the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on the outskirts of Bushehr, Iran.
(AP Photo/Iranian Presidency Office, Mohammad Berno, File)
But despite Russia’s apparent support for the nuclear deal and more than a year of deals, negotiations stalled again in September after Iran in late August botched negotiations by demanding additional changes to a draft proposal.
The demands led Western officials to look gloomily at the prospect of a deal with Iran, and a video surfaced last week appeared to show President Biden in early November proclaiming that the deal “is dead.”
A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital this week that “the Iranians killed the opportunity for a quick return to mutual compliance with the JCPOA in September when they turned their backs on a deal that was on the table, approved by all.” .
MOSSAD HEAD WARNS OF IRAN’S INCREASING SUPPLY OF ADVANCED WEAPONS TO RUSSIA, EFFORTS TO ENRICH URANIUM
LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – MARCH 30: Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (D) arrives for a meeting with P5+1, European Union and Iranian officials during nuclear talks with Iran at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne on March 30, 2015.
(Photo by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)
“The JCPOA has not been on the agenda for months. It is not our focus,” the spokesperson added.
Lavrov directly blamed the United States and Europe for the stalled negotiations, saying their efforts “have slowed down drastically, moving on to shake up the internal political situation in Iran.”
The United States, NATO and Kyiv have accused Iran of supplying Russia with Shahed drones that have been used to strike civilian targets for months in Ukraine, though Moscow and Tehran say no such partnership exists.
“Westerners started a scandal at the UN Security Council in connection with the alleged deliveries of Iranian ‘drones’ to Russia,” he continued.
Lavrov asserted that Washington and its allies have no proof and echoed repeated denials that Iran is providing Russia with drones to weaponize its deadly war in Ukraine.
President Biden must never allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.
(iStock)
The White House disputed these denials, and in October, National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby told reporters: “There is ample evidence of [Iranian drone] by Russia against military and civilian targets.
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“However, both Iran and Russia continue to lie about it,” he added. “They can lie to the world, but they certainly can’t hide the facts.”
Fox News’ Peter Aitken contributed to this report.
