US Bid for Snapback Mechanism against Iran Unlawful: Russian Envoy
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Russia’s ambassador to Tehran voiced his country’s opposition to the US’ illegal push to trigger a snapback mechanism that invokes sanctions against Tehran under the 2015 nuclear deal, saying Washington is no more a party to the JCPOA.
In an interview with Tasnim, Levan Jagarian hailed the result of recent voting at the UN Security Council against a US-initiated resolution for the extension of an arms embargo on Iran.
He said the vote indicated that nearly all UNSC members had positive and realistic views, noting that Russia is very satisfied with the three European countries’ decision to abstain.
“As regards the snapback (mechanism), we have emphasized several times at various levels and have also made it clear for Americans that this is an illegal attempt,” Jagarian added.
“The US has withdrawn from the JCPOA for more than two years and has nothing to do with the (UNSC) Resolution 2231, so the US’ attempt is illegal and has no legal ground,” the ambassador added, hoping that the EU3 would hold the same view.
The ambassador then pointed to a new proposal made by Russian President Vladimir Putin on holding an online summit among the heads of the five permanent UNSC members, plus Iran and Germany, to discuss various issues, not only the JCPOA, but also the current situation in the Persian Gulf.
The Russian envoy said the chaotic situation in the region requires collective action for de-escalation of tensions, so that the regional countries, be it Iran, its neighbors, or the Arab states, would not have reciprocal feelings of fear.
Jagarian added that Russia is going to discuss the issue of the online summit with the US, saying it could be the first step in a long-term process.
Asked about Russia’s success to produce a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, Jagarian said his country is ready to provide Iran with the Russian vaccine.
Expressing Russia’s readiness to work with the other countries on the production and export of the COVID-19 vaccine that has passed tests in his country, he said several countries such as Brazil, Vietnam, Serbia and the Philippines have applied for the Russian vaccine.
The ambassador said he has informed the Iranian Foreign Ministry of Moscow’s readiness for cooperation with Tehran, noting that a Russian company has been designated to work with an Iranian peer to discuss the conditions and date of delivering the vaccine to Iran.
Russia will always stand by the friendly Iranian nation and is prepared to fully support the Islamic Republic of Iran in the difficult conditions, Jagarian concluded.
