"Ukraine Crisis and Iran Nuclear Deal Negotiations Are Separate... US Provides Written Guarantee"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Russia stated that the restoration negotiations of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and the Ukraine situation are separate matters, and that the U.S. side has agreed and provided written guarantees.

According to TASS on the 15th (local time), at a press conference held after talks in Moscow between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, it was announced that "U.S. sanctions against Russia will not affect exchanges between Russia and Iran following the conclusion of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA)," and "we have also received written guarantees from the U.S. on this matter." This emphasized that Russia will continue to participate as a party in the restoration negotiations of the Iran nuclear deal, independently from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and that the U.S. agrees with this.

Foreign media reported that even within the U.S. government, this position is not being denied. Citing a senior U.S. State Department official, major foreign media reported, "We cannot comment on Minister Lavrov's public remarks," but "new sanctions against Russia are unrelated to the Iran nuclear deal negotiations and should not affect the implementation of the agreement." The senior official added, "We will not sanction Russia's involvement in nuclear projects associated with the full implementation of the Iran nuclear deal," and emphasized, "We will continue dialogue with Russia regarding the Iran nuclear negotiations."

The Iranian government also stressed that the Iran nuclear deal must continue independently of the Ukraine situation. After the meeting with Minister Lavrov, Minister Amir-Abdollahian stated, "Russia has not created any obstacles in the nuclear negotiations," and "there is no factor that would negatively impact the Vienna talks." He further emphasized, "Russia will stand by Iran until the restoration talks of the nuclear deal are concluded."

This is interpreted as a move to prevent the restoration negotiations of the Iran nuclear deal, which have stalled again since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, from returning to square one. The restoration negotiations of the Iran nuclear deal had been considered to be nearing their final stages since last month, but after Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the 24th of last month, all negotiating teams returned to their countries, and the final negotiations have not been held.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.