Moscow urges US to focus on nuclear deal revival, not on riots in Iran

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Dec 2022 09:46
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Experts with knowledge of the Vienna nuclear talks say the deal's revival is possible if the terms agreed on initially are implemented.

Special US envoy to Iran Robert Malley (AFP)

A high-ranking Russian diplomatic source told Sputnik on Sunday about Russia's hopes of the US exhibiting its commitment more concretely to reviving the JCPOA and fixing their past flops.

US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley said last week the US prefers to focus on Iran's riots, as opposed to directing attention toward the nuclear talks, which the US sees deadlocked at Iran's fault.

In that context, in an interview for Bloomberg, Malley said Washington will be focusing on supporting rioters in Iran - which John Bolton recently admitted to them being armed - and on alleged Iranian arms supplies to Russia. Malley contended that Washington currently aims to "disrupt, delay, deter and sanction" weapon deliveries to Russia from Iran.

"Statements are being made overseas every now and then that make one doubt the current US administration's commitment to its promises to bring the US back to the JCPOA. Americans are thrashing about and looking for a convenient excuse to derail from the course on revival of the nuclear deal," the source stated, reiterating that the US should comply with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 which advocates for the JCPOA and should thus correct and amend its previous violations of the resolution.

According to the Russian diplomat, professionals with knowledge of the Vienna structure of nuclear talks have concluded that the deal's revival is possible if the terms agreed on initially are implemented.

"For this, our US colleagues just lack the political will to make the final step on reaching an agreement on this matter. We hope that they will stop muddying waters, pull themselves together and follow through on the revival of nuclear deal," the source commented.

Earlier this month, the Iranian army commander, Maj. Gen. Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi considered that the riots in Iran were part of the United States' plan to disrupt negotiations on the restoration of the JCPOA.

The nuclear deal was sealed in 2015 by China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the UK, and the US, as well as the EU. But in 2018, the US unilaterally withdrew from the deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran, to which the latter responded by gradually dropping its own obligations under the deal. Following the change of power in the White House, the world powers resumed talks on the revival of the JCPOA.