Iranian Envoy Highlights Russia’s “Balancing Role" in Nuclear Talks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Ambassador to Russia Mehdi Sanaei on Monday hailed Moscow's role in nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers as “positive and balancing”.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, United States, Britain, France, and Germany) are now in nuclear talks with the aim of hammering out a final agreement to end more than a decade of impasse over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.
“Russia’s role in Iran’s nuclear case has certainly been a positive and balancing one in the past few years,” Sanaei said, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 2nd International Conference on 'International System, Regional Developments, and Iran’s Foreign Policy' held in Tehran.
The Iranian ambassador went on to say that Moscow has always tried to balance the pressures exerted on Tehran, but at the same time expressed the hope that Russia’s positive role is reinforced in the upcoming months.
In similar remarks in January, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif highlighted the significant role Russia can play to help secure a final nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.
Russia’s more active role in the talks is an important factor in the acceleration of settlement of the issue and achievement of a comprehensive agreement, Zarif explained.
Earlier in November, Tehran and Moscow had signed an agreement, guaranteed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on the construction of eight nuclear power units in Iran.
As regards the agreement, Sanaei expressed the hope that Russia would officially begin the construction of Bushehr's second nuclear power plant in September.
The new nuclear plant will be constructed as part of Iran's plan to produce 20,000 megawatts of electricity from nuclear power.
Iran's only nuclear power plant in Bushehr, which produces 1,000 megawatts, became officially operational and was connected to Iran’s national grid in September 2011.
Last December, President Rouhani said that the construction of the second nuclear plant in Bushehr will soon kick off and that there will be nuclear reactors in most parts of Bushehr province, which has a long coast on the Persian Gulf.
