Russia: Iran's Demands Reasonable and Justified
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Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said that Iran's desire to obtain demands to prevent the collapse of the JCPOA is reasonable and justified.
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Macron and Lapid meeting in Paris on Nov. 30
"The desire of Tehran to obtain guarantees that the JCPOA will not collapse again, as it happened under Trump's rule, is justified and reasonable," Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, said on Saturday.
Ulyanov told reporters, "The requirement of Iranians for the guarantees is absolutely clear and justified. There must be certainty that the malicious experiment which was done under [Ex-US President] Donald Trump with the maximum pressure policy, additional sanctions, will not be repeated. All this must be subject to discussions."
He also added that if Iran needs any other guarantees, it can also be discussed.
Macron: Nuclear Deal Difficult if Gulf, "Israel" not Involved
French President Emmanuel Macron suggested on Friday that "Israel" and Gulf states should be included in discussions to revive the JCPOA. Speaking to reporters, Macron said that a broader framework to the discussions might benefit the talks.
“I think everyone is conscious of the fact that not talking, not trying to find a new framework on both nuclear and regional issues, weakens everybody and is a factor in increasing confliction,” the French president said.
“It is also important to reengage a slightly broader dynamic and involve regional powers as well,” he added. “It is difficult to reach an agreement if the Gulf states, 'Israel' and all those whose security is directly affected are not involved.”
Read more: Reframing Vienna: What about Iran’s Side of the Story?
Macron - Lapid meeting in Paris
Macron had met days ago with Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who was adamant that sanctions must not be removed from Iran, and that only a credible military threat will stop Tehran’s nuclear program, and stressed the need for a Plan B if talks fail.
A diplomat told the Israeli Walla news site that the draft on sanctions relief was "extreme and maximalist", with Iran increasing its demands in this round, compared to previous rounds.
Friday's draft resolutions
The Vienna talks were suspended Friday after Iran's negotiating team presented two draft proposals on sanctions removal and Iran's nuclear commitments, which were reportedly not to the liking of the E3. All sides will return to their home countries for further consultations before going back to the talks. Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that a general advance has been made during the seventh round.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Tehran did not seem to be serious about reaching an agreement, adding that the US would now consult with its allies, including "Israel", on how best to move forward. “And we will see if Iran has any interest in engaging seriously, but the window is very, very tight.”
In contrast to Blinken's statement, EU Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borell noted that the talks are important as all parties, "especially the Islamic Republic of Iran, are now working hard to reach an agreement in Vienna."
