US sanctions on Iran seek to disrupt P5+1 talks

Vice Speaker of the Russian State Duma Sergey Baburin has slammed the US unilateral sanctions against Iran as Washington’s tactic to sabotage the upcoming comprehensive talks between Tehran and the world powers.

In a Thursday interview, Baburin stated that the US stance on Iran totally runs counter to the objectives of the negotiations between Iran and the 5+1 group — including the US, Britain, France, Russia, and China plus Germany –, noting that Washington has intentionally imposed new embargoes against Tehran in an attempt to disrupt the talks.

The US and its European allies have imposed illegal unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic based on the unfounded accusation that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

On February 6, the US Treasury Department announced new sanctions targeting Iranian oil revenues.

The sanctions prevent Iran from gaining access to earnings garnered from its crude exports.

The US behaviors indicate that it is in Washington’s interest to continue pressures against Iran and prevent the resolution of problems related to Iran’s nuclear energy program through dialogue, Baburin pointed out.

Iran has proved its goodwill in the course of negotiations and now it is time for the Western side to adopt a similar approach, he noted.

The Russian official pointed to more than 7,300 man-hours of inspection of Iran’s nuclear energy facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), saying that such level of cooperation with the IAEA has been unprecedented in the world.

This proves Iran’s goodwill, but the West ignores this obvious fact, he added.

The next round of comprehensive talks between Iran and the P5+1 is scheduled to be held in Kazakhstan on February 25.