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Iran confirms adherence to agreement on nuclear program — Russian lawmaker

Iran is serious in its resolve, Russian State Duma’s Committee on International Affairs chairman Alexey Pushkov says, adding that this seems to be a well informed decision, conscious and responsible

MOSCOW, April 13. /TASS/. Iran has confirmed its adherence to the agreement in the nuclear program reached in Switzerland’s Lausanne on April 2, Russian State Duma’s Committee on International Affairs chairman Alexey Pushkov said on Monday.

"The Iranian side has confirmed readiness to observe the agreements reached in Lausanne," Pushkov said after talks with Chairman for the Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran Alaeddin Boroujerdi. "Iran will not try to disrupt the prospects of this agreement," the lawmaker said.

"Iran is serious in its resolve. I think this is a well informed decision, conscious and responsible," Pushkov said. "Iran does not feel like it’s in a weak position. They think they have rather strong positions at negotiations in order to solve the impending tasks, in particular on soonest lifting of sanctions," he added. "This issue will be additionally discussed, when and which sanctions will be lifted," Pushkov noted, adding that Iran calls for the soonest cancellation of restrictions.

Pushkov described the agreement between Iran and the Sextet of international mediators as "the most effective way to lower the military threat and prevent a possible military conflict." "There are political forces in the US and Israel that have called for and still call for a military solution to the problem, for air strikes at Iran’s nuclear facilities," the lawmaker added. Considering the destabilization in the Middle and Near East, from Libya to Pakistan, another conflict would turn the region into "the zone of continuous military chaos," Pushkov warned.

"No one is interested in that, at least rational forces. Russia is not interested in that at all," he stressed. Moscow, however, is interested in nuclear non-proliferation, and the agreement on Iran’s nuclear program contributes to this. "We assured the Iranian side that the society in Russia, not only the executive branch, the State Duma, is very positive about the prospects of reaching an agreement and thus solving one of the biggest international problems of the last 15 years," Pushkov said.

Sanctions against Iran

From 2006, the UN Security Council has adopted eight resolutions on Iran’s nuclear program. The resolutions imposed arms and nuclear technologies embargo on Tehran, prohibited activities connected to developing ballistic missiles, and targeted individuals and organizations by freezing assets and restricting travel. Iran has repeatedly demanded the cancellation of these and other sanctions imposed unilaterally by the US and other countries.

Agreement on Iran’s nuclear program

On April 2, Iran and P5+1 group (Russia, US, UK, China, France and Germany) reached a breakthrough agreement in Switzerland’s Lausanne on restricting Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for gradual lifting of sanctions. The deadline for coordinating the final agreement is June 30.

According to the deal, Iran will not enrich uranium no higher than to 3.67% for the next 15 years. Tehran will also cut its stockpile of low-enriched uranium from around 10 tons to 300 kilograms. Iran agreed not to set up new facilities for uranium enrichment in the next 15 years, and vowed not to reprocess spent nuclear fuel and conduct research in this sphere.

On April 9, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that the Iran will sign a final agreement with P5+1 group only after all sanctions are lifted from Tehran.