MOSCOW: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the United States (US) for its lack of commitment to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and stated that the deal was simply killed by the US. Lavrov made these remarks during a press conference, where he expressed doubts about the prospects of reviving the JCPOA under the current circumstances.
Lavrov pointed out that with just over a year remaining until the 2024 US presidential election, it is unrealistic to expect any additional agreements to revive the JCPOA. He highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the potential new administration in the US and raised concerns about whether they would refrain from withdrawing from the agreement again.
The Russian foreign minister emphasized that the US, despite the requirements under the UN Charter, refused to implement the resolution that finalized the JCPOA. While the Biden administration expressed readiness to restore the program, Lavrov lamented that instead of fully reviving the resolution and the JCPOA, they have been engaging in negotiations and seeking additional concessions from Tehran.
JCPOA Aims to Address Concerns Over Iran’s Nuclear Program
The JCPOA, signed in 2015 between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, aimed to address concerns over Iran’s nuclear program. Former US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018. The current US President, Joe Biden, has expressed willingness to resurrect the deal.
Negotiations to salvage the JCPOA have been taking place since April 2021, involving Russia, the UK, Germany, China, the US, and France. The talks began in Vienna with the goal of assessing Washington’s seriousness in rejoining the deal and lifting anti-Iran sanctions.
However, the negotiations have been at a standstill since August, primarily due to the US’s insistence on maintaining a hard-nosed position and not fully lifting the sanctions imposed on Iran by the previous administration. Iran has called for guarantees from the other side to ensure their commitment to any agreement reached.
