Russia to US: End ‘meaningless’ pressure policy so Iran deal can function normally

“The US is sending signals of readiness for dialogue to restore the JCPOA. It is welcomed,” Russia’s Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said in a Russian-language tweet on Monday, using an acronym for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the official name of the nuclear accord.

“It’s time to put an end to the meaningless policy of maximum pressure on Iran and ensure the normal functioning of the nuclear deal, the most important component of the nuclear non-proliferation regime,” he added.

Ulyanov’s comments came days after the US mission to Vienna-based international organizations said in a tweet that Washington, “is ready to reengage in meaningful diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to compliance with” the Iran deal “in close coordination with our allies and partners.”

Former president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the JCPOA in May 2018, and unleashed the “maximum pressure” campaign with the goal of forcing Iran to negotiate “a better agreement.”

That policy failed to yield result as the Islamic Republic refused to bow down to the US pressure and threats and responded to its campaign with “maximum resistance.”

Trump’s successor, Joe Biden, has expressed a willingness to bring the US back to the nuclear accord. However, his administration is demanding that Iran walk back all its remedial steps which it has taken in response to the US violations and the Europeans’ failure to meet their end of the bargain.

Iran insists the United States has to lift its sanctions before Tehran considers a reversal.

The Islamic Republic says there is no need for negotiations on Washington’s return, and that America only needs to remove the sanctions for gaining the right to rejoin the JCPOA.

In another development on Monday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told its member states that Iran has started enriching uranium with a third set of advanced IR-2m centrifuges at Natanz nuclear facility.https://if-cdn.com/Nw8vYm2?v=1&app=1

US waiting for ‘constructive proposal’ from Iran

Asked about the IAEA report, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US’s “patience can’t be unlimited because of the nature of this challenge.”

“We have made an offer to engage in good-faith discussions in the context of the broader P5+1 setting. We have seen various public comments from the Iranians on this score. We are awaiting a constructive proposal from Tehran,” he said.

Price further said, “Iran’s nuclear program is a challenge best addressed by diplomacy. From our side it will be clear-eyed, it will be principled diplomacy, conducted with – in lockstep with our partners and allies towards our end goal, and that is a permanent, verifiable prohibition on – permanent, verifiable limits on Iran’s nuclear program.”