Iran fairly criticizing US, EU on nuclear deal: Russian diplomat

A senior Russian diplomat says it is “fair” for Iran to reproach the West for dragging its feet in fulfilling its part of last year’s nuclear deal amid Tehran’s complaints that it has not received the promised sanctions relief.

In an interview with Russia’s Interfax news agency, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the removal of anti-Iran economic bans have so far failed to pave the way for the return of international businesses to the Iranian market.

“I won’t hide that the Iranian colleagues, in our view quite fairly, point out that despite the fact that an impressive mass of unilateral US and EU restrictions have been lifted, international business representatives are not in a hurry to return to Iran’s economy,” he added.

The current situation, Ryabkov said, has prompted Iran to reproach the Westerners for the shortfall and urge Washington and the EU to speed up “the explanatory work among commercial structure, with a particular emphasis on what is permitted” under the nuclear agreement.

Last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with his US counterpart, John Kerry, and urged Washington to show seriousness in encouraging banks to do business with Iran in accordance with the terms of the JCPOA.

Elsewhere in his comments, the Russian official touched on the regular meetings of the JCPOA’s Joint Commission and said the mechanism helps resolve the nuclear deal’s “rough areas,” and all the problematic issues that arise in the implementation process. 

SS