Iran, Russia show united front against West on nuclear deal
GBNEWS24 DESK//
“We are counting on the fact that we will be able to save the agreement and that Washington will finally return to full and complete implementation of the corresponding UN resolution,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif after talks in Tehran.
Lavrov also blasted the European Union for slapping sanctions on eight Iranian security officials, saying that the blacklisting threatens current efforts to restore the deal.
“There is no coordination at the EU. The left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing,” he said.
He stressed that “if this decision was taken voluntarily in the midst of negotiations in Vienna to save (the deal), then it is no longer unfortunate, it is a mistake worse than a crime”.
In response to EU sanctions, Iran said Monday it is suspending cooperation with Europe on various fields including “terrorism, drug (trafficking) and refugees”.
Zarif warned the US that it would gain no extra leverage in Vienna through “acts of sabotage” and sanctions.
He also blasted Israel, which Iran has accused of being behind a Sunday sabotage attack on its Natanz uranium enrichment facility, of having made a “very bad gamble”.
“We have no problem with returning to implementing our JCPOA commitments,” Zarif said using the formal acronym for the nuclear deal.
“But the Americans should know that neither sanctions nor acts of sabotage will give them negotiation tools and these acts will only make the situation more difficult for them.”
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