MOSCOW, December 15. /TASS/. Moscow hopes that prolongation of US sanctions against Iran will not affect the implementation of the Iranian nuclear program deal, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s non-proliferation and weapons control department, Mikhail Ulyanov, said in reply to a question from TASS.
"We do expect that no negative consequences will follow for the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan for the Iranian nuclear program from the emerging aggravation in relations between Iran and the United States," Ulyanov said.
The diplomat recalled that the United States introduced sanctions against Iran "beyond the context of the CJAP back in 1996 over objections to Iran’s nuclear program and its alleged involvement in some sort of terrorist activity."
"There is no link between the two issues," Ulyanov said.
"Our attitude to the sanctions is a fundamental one. We believe this is of no use," Ulyanov said. "The flare-up in debate over the CJAP due to the 1996 sanctions confirms the fact that our evaluations are well-founded and fair."
The diplomat recalled that the agreement over the Iranian nuclear program was "very delicate and represented a very fragile balance of interest, to be treated with great caution, prudence and diligence."
"The responsibility rests upon all participants," he said.