US Focuses on Iran Policy and Preventing Russian Arms Supplies

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Robert Malley, the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran at the State Department, stated on the 3rd (local time) that the United States is focusing on other issues in its policy toward Iran, such as preventing the supply of Iranian weapons to Russia.

According to Bloomberg News, Malley said in an interview in Rome on the same day, "Iran is not interested in reaching an agreement," suggesting that restoring the nuclear deal is not the top priority of the U.S. policy toward Iran.

Malley emphasized, "For now, it is important to deter and disrupt Iran's supply of weapons to Russia and to support the fundamental aspirations of the Iranian people."

The Iran nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed in 2015 between the U.S. under the Obama administration, Western countries, and Iran, but the Trump administration unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018.

After the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration, the U.S. began negotiations to restore the nuclear deal, but differences remain unresolved. Iran has recently intensified its uranium enrichment activities.

Last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors adopted a resolution demanding an investigation into nuclear material found at three undeclared sites in Iran, judging that Iran has provided unsatisfactory responses regarding the suspicions.

Iran is demanding a halt to the IAEA investigation as a condition for resuming nuclear deal negotiations, but the U.S. and its allies have rejected this demand.

Malley stressed that the current U.S. goal is to "prevent, delay, deter, and sanction" the transfer of weapons from Iran to Russia. He also warned that if Iran supplies missiles to Russia or supports the construction of military production facilities within Russia, it would be "crossing a new line."

Although the Russian government claims it does not use Iranian weapons, there are observations that Iranian drones are being used in the attacks on Ukraine.

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