MOSCOW, July 18. /TASS/. Russia has serious questions about the fulfillment by the United States of the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (the new START Treaty), Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said on Wednesday.
"With regard to the START, it will be wrong, if we leave the world without any existing treaty in this area," the diplomat said at a news briefing in Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
"We have serious questions to US colleagues about how they are fulfilling the provisions of the new START Treaty," the diplomat pointed out.
"I believe that we can consider extending this treaty, if Russia’s concerns are solved," Antonov said.
The Treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (the New START Treaty) entered into force on February 5, 2011. The document stipulates that seven years after its entry into effect each party should have no more than a total of 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) and strategic bombers, as well as no more than 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs and strategic bombers, and a total of 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers and strategic bombers.
The new START Treaty obliges the parties to exchange information on the number of warheads and carriers twice a year.
The new START Treaty will remain in force during 10 years until 2021, unless superseded by a subsequent agreement. It may be extended for a period of no more than five years (i.e. until 2026) upon the parties’ mutual consent.
On Iran nuclear deal
The United States should tackle issues with Iran instead of destroying the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Antonov said.
"We disagree with the US here. We are clearly in favor of preserving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear program," he said. "There is a mechanism that has proved its viability. Today, Iran is inspected most often by the IAEA."
"If someone has problems, we heard questions to the Iranians from US President Donald Trump, parallel tracks to discuss these issues can be launched too," Antonov noted. "It is very easy to destroy something, but it is very difficult to create something. If the JCPOA is working efficiently, why break it?"
"We are in favor of preserving this plan. We are for the search of solutions, compromise in other areas," the ambassador stressed.