Kremlin: Russia warned Iran against withdrawing from nuclear non-proliferation treaty
Russia warned Tehran against withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Ryabkov in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta following talks in Tehran about the nuclear deal.
“We also warned Iran not to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons which would be a certain step towards destabilization,” he said. “It would undermine the foundation of the international nuclear non-proliferation system.”
The deputy minister also added that Russia's position on Iran includes a warning against any rash steps that would undermine the nuclear deal. “In early July, we are approaching the date when the 60-day period announced by the Iranian leadership expires, after which only the first phase of the FISS obligations that Iran willingly acquiesced to will be suspended,” Ryabkov said. “Most likely, in the absence of a solution, the second phase will then be implemented.”
In addition, he stressed that Russia was sympathetic to Iran’s plans for enriching uranium above the level of 3.67% and suspending the modernization of the Arak reactor if other parties to the nuclear would fail to uphold it after May 8th. “We reacted to these decisions with understanding. The JCPOA - paragraphs 26 and 36 - indeed contains provisions focuses on the voluntary nature of a number of obligations Iran has assumed,” the diplomat said.
Iran adopted the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA) in 2015 and well as the permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany. On May 8, 2018, the United States withdrew from the JCPOA and imposed a number of economic sanctions against Iran, seeking, in particular, a completely halt to its oil exports. Exactly one year later, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that Tehran suspended part of its obligations under the nuclear deal and gave other participants six months to return to implementing it in full. After six months, Iran intends to analyze the situation and decide what to do next.