Russia rejects Western ‘artificial deadlines’ for Vienna talks

As multilateral negotiations to bring the US into full compliance with the 2015 agreement continue, Russia’s lead negotiator to the Vienna talks says his country rejects “artificial deadlines” set by Western parties after their meeting with the US.

“The #JCPOA participants (without #Iran) and the US met to assess the state of affairs at the #ViennaTalks,” Mikhail Ulyanov wrote in a tweet on Friday.

“The Western colleagues, as they do it publicly, underlined the need to finalize negotiations ASAP. Russia shares the sense of urgency but is against artificial deadlines,” he added.

On Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed “fabricated deadlines” set by the US and its European allies.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said the US would better focus on its Plan A rather than threatening Iran with a Plan B.

In the course of the Vienna talks, Russia and China have supported Iran’s position while the European parties to the deal have thrown their weight behind Washington as they try to pressure Tehran into accepting terms dictated by the White House.

“China and Russia support Iran’s constructive plan, but Western countries, including the United States, have so far offered no innovative proposals in the talks,” Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in an interview with the CGTN published on Monday.

Amir-Abdollahian made clear that “if the parties can resume their commitments under the Iran deal, Iran will also return to commitments based on the agreement.”

He added, “If Iran can get the expected economic benefits from the agreement, so will all the parties.”

SS