Lavrov: We Received Written Guarantees from the US Within the Framework of JCPOA

At a press conference of the foreign ministers of Russia and Iran, Lavrov said that his country received written guarantees from the United States within the framework of the JCPOA. A US official said these guarantees were for Russia’s participation in Iran’s nuclear projects within the framework of the JCPOA.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran’s Foreign Minister, traveled to Moscow on Tuesday, March 15 (Esfand 24) and met with Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister.

Following this meeting, Lavrov said at a joint press conference that Moscow received written assurances from the United States that new sanctions against Russia will not prevent cooperation within the framework of Iran’s nuclear agreement.

According to France Press Agency, citing Lavrov, the guarantees obtained from Washington protect Russia’s role in the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran.

According to Bloomberg News, the United States has given Russia written assurances that sanctions imposed on Moscow due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will not affect nuclear supply agreements with Iran and will pave the way for resuming negotiations to revive the JCPOA.

Lavrov said these assurances provide reliable protection for all projects and activities foreseen in the nuclear agreement.

The US government, which has called its negotiating team back from Vienna for consultations, has not yet formally confirmed this statement.

US Official: Russian Sanctions Have Nothing to Do with JCPOA

A senior State Department official, who did not want to be named, told Reuters that the United States continues to cooperate with Russia toward reviving the JCPOA.

The US official added that Moscow can now understand that sanctions imposed due to the invasion of Ukraine will have no effect on the implementation of the JCPOA.

A senior State Department official said that Washington will not sanction Russia’s participation in nuclear projects that are part of the JCPOA agreement, provided that the JCPOA is fully implemented.

According to Reuters, he emphasized that Washington cannot give Russia guarantees beyond this.

The senior State Department official clarified: “Perhaps it is now clear to Moscow, as we have also stated publicly, that new sanctions related to Russia have nothing to do with the JCPOA and should not affect its implementation.”

Source: DW