Russia's reaction to Zarif's audio file after four days

The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement in response to Zarif's audio recording, saying Russia was taking into account "Iran's official position." The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said his country would not act on the basis of "unconsidered or unacceptable statements."

After four days, the Russian Foreign Ministry reacted to the release of an audio file of Mohammad Javad Zarif and his remarks about Russia's role in the JCPOA nuclear agreement and the Syrian crisis.

Russia has said that it seeks to expand cooperation with Iran and "considers the basis to be their actions, not their words."

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday, April 29, that the release of the audio file, amid ongoing negotiations to revive the JCPOA in Vienna, would "only harm things."

Without going into details about Zarif's remarks about Russia's role in the nuclear talks, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that Russia bases its decisions on Tehran's official position on the nuclear deal and cooperation with Iran. Zakharova went on to emphasize that Russia does not act on the basis of "unconsidered or unacceptable statements."

In his three-hour audio recording released on Sunday, April 25, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif explicitly stated that the trip of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force, to Russia took place without the supervision of the Iranian Foreign Ministry and "with the will of Russia," and that "Russia's will was to destroy the achievements of the Iranian Foreign Ministry."

Regarding the Russian role in the JCPOA negotiations, Mr. Zarif also said: "The Russians' goal was to prevent the nuclear agreement from being implemented."