MOSCOW, August 7. /TASS/. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for Iran’s nuclear program is solid enough and its participants are capable of overcoming the current difficulties, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a Tuesday statement, commenting on the restoration of US sanctions on Tehran.
"We are confident that the JCPOA is solid enough," the statement reads. "Participants in the deal are capable of overcoming the emerging difficulties. We reaffirm our commitment to the JCPOA," the Russian Foreign Ministry added.
The ministry pointed out that Moscow would do everything necessary to maintain and fully implement the Iran nuclear deal. "We have been taking measures at the national level in order to defend trade and economic cooperation with Iran. We also continue working with other responsible participants in the JCPOA in developing collective decisions aimed at accomplishing the tasks of maintaining and boosting international trade and financial cooperation with Iran, set by the foreign ministers of the parties in a statement adopted at the July 6 meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission. We believe that this work is in line with the interests of the entire international community," the document adds.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stressed that the JCPOA was proving effective, which had been verified during inspections carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). "The verification and control measures that the Plan stipulates are fully applicable, which in itself is a reliable evidence of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program," the statement notes.
Disappointment with Washington
At the same time, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed disappointment with the restoration of US sanctions on Iran.
"We are deeply disappointed with the United States’ steps to restore its national sanctions against Iran," the statement reads. "The introduction of the first round of US restrictions is aimed at undermining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Washington pulled out of on May 8," the Russian Foreign Ministry added.
"This is a striking example of Washington’s violations of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 and international law," the statement says, adding that Russia condemned unilateral sanctions, which bypassed the UN Security Council’s decisions, including their "extraterritorial application that affects the interests of other countries."
"The international community should not let important achievements of multilateral diplomacy be sacrificed to Washington’s desire to settle political scores with Iran in matters that have nothing to do with the JCPOA," the Russian Foreign Ministry stressed. "Years of experience show that it is impossible to pressure Iran for concessions," the statement noted.
Iran nuclear deal issue
In 2015, Iran and six major powers (five member states of the United Nations Security Council - Russia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom and China - and Germany) agreed on the final Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which particularly stipulated the removal of sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear program.
On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced Washington’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal. He said that old sanctions on Iran would be restored and new ones would be imposed.
The first round of US sanctions was introduced overnight into August 7, while the remaining restrictions will take effect on November 5.
The leaders of Great Britain, Germany and France earlier called on other participants in the deal to continue fulfilling it. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Tehran would not abandon the JCPOA and would continue to comply with its obligations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Washington’s withdrawal from the JCPOA would violate the United Nations Security Council’s resolution. He added that Russia would seek to maintain the agreement despite US plans to resume sanctions against Iran.