Moscow: Axios' claim against Iran, Russia is a dirty political campaign

Pars Today – The Russian Foreign Ministry on Sunday dismissed a claim by an American media outlet that the Russian president had asked the Islamic Republic of Iran to accept a deal with the U.S. involving "zero enrichment" as a "dirty political campaign."

In a statement responding to the allegations made by the American outlet Axios, the Russian Foreign Ministry said: "One can guess who is behind this order, but the latest report titled 'Putin Asked Iran to Accept a Deal with the U.S. Involving Zero Enrichment' appears to be yet another dirty political campaign aimed solely at escalating tensions surrounding the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear program."

Citing ISNA, Pars Today reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that Moscow has "consistently and repeatedly stressed the necessity of resolving the crisis surrounding Iran's nuclear program solely through political and diplomatic means" and has expressed its readiness to help find a mutually acceptable solution. 

The Russian diplomatic apparatus concluded by stating: "Moscow calls on global media to rely on official sources for information, thoroughly investigate issues, and refrain from spreading false news." 

On Saturday, the news-analytical website Axios, citing informed sources, reported that the Russian president had told Donald Trump, the U.S. president, and Iranian officials that he "supports the idea of a nuclear deal under which the Islamic Republic of Iran would not be able to enrich uranium." 

Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, said during a meeting with ambassadors, chargés d'affaires, and heads of foreign missions in Tehran on Saturday regarding uranium enrichment restrictions as part of any potential agreement with the West: "We emphasize that in any negotiated solution, the rights of the Iranian people on the nuclear issue, including the right to enrichment, must be respected, and we will not accept any agreement without enrichment." 

Iran’s Foreign Minister stressed that "enrichment is a major scientific achievement of Iranian scientists, and we will safeguard this achievement." However, the U.S. government continues to insist that any agreement with the Islamic Republic on its nuclear program must include the dismantling of enrichment in Iran.

MG/BK